Visits were carried out in regions as part of the National Preventive Mechanism activities of Ombudsman

Ad hoc visits without prior notice have been carried out to children’s homes in Ganja and Sheki cities within the framework of the National Preventive Mechanism activities of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The visit was aimed at investigation of preventive measures continued against the spread of novel COVID-19 infection in those facilities, existing sanitary situation, as well as living conditions of children of different age groups and treatment of them by staff members of the facility during the pandemic, also monitoring the status of ensuring the rights of the child.

During these visits all units of the facilities, including bedroom, learning and medical rooms, canteen, kitchen, rooms for spending leisure time, common area were monitored.

In order to investigate treatment issues, the children living in those facilities, administration of facility, teachers and medical workers were interviewed on a random basis, the existing situation was learnt. This was observed that shift work was applied and disinfection measures was carried out at Children's Home of Ganja city due to the special quarantine regime. This facility has been provided with face masks and disinfectants, informational booklets about hygiene rules against COVID-19 by Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The administration of the facility reported that COVID-19 tests were carried out for the children and staff members, the results were negative.

Some children have been taken by their parents and contact of those staying in the facility is temporarily limited with parents and other persons for preventing the spread of infection.

In the visit to Sheki Mixed-type Children’s Home it was found that this facility was also supplied with ethyl alcohol, masks and gloves by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the use during quarantine period.

During the visit, it was revealed that there was a vacancy for doctor-pediatrician position in that facility, as well as the measures should be carried out to increase limit allocated for electricity in the facility and to provide permanent working conditions for ventilation in food warehouse.

At the end of visits, the members of National Preventive Group held awareness-raising talks with administration and staff of both facilities and in particular with children on the basis of  the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Rights of the Child within the framework of Human Rights Month-long Campaign , announced by the Commissioner for the period between May 18-June 18, 2020. They were recommended to strictly follow the rules regarding conditions of living and treatment, including social distancing and hygiene for the protection against COVID-19 in children’s homes.