Representatives of the Ombudsman Office took part in an international online meeting

The head of the International Relations Sector of the Ombudsman Office, Zaur Valimammadli and the head of the Sector on Protection of the Rights of Refugees, IDPs and Migrants, Turan Jahangirova took part in an online meeting on “COVID- 19 and Migration”, organized by the ENNHRI’s Asylum and Migration Working Group, acting on the basis of Strategic Plan for 2018-2021. The meeting focused on exchange of practices concerning the challenges arising in relation to protecting migrants’ rights due to the spread of COVID-19 infection in the world and the solution of such problems.

More than 20 representatives of National Human Rights Institutions from the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France and others joined the meeting and discussed the views and experiences in the field of preventing the further spread of the global COVID-19 outbreak in the European region, also the effective protection of the rights of different population groups, including  migrants. 

The representatives of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman Office provided general information about the urgent measures carried out by the Commissioner with respect to protecting human rights due to the pandemic declared in the world.

This was noted that special quarantine regime has been declared in Azerbaijan since March 24, 2020, in order to fight against the virus.

Despite the fact that the Commissioner has temporarily suspended the live reception of citizens because of the current situation, complaints and applications are received via mail, telephone, fax and in an online form; each appeal is responded with the sense of urgency.

It was added that from the very first days, when the infection reported in the country, the Commissioner has regularly contacted with the migration bodies while fulfilling the National Preventive Mechanism mandate. The Commissioner has investigated the situation of migrants, held in the Detention Center for Illegal Migrants, their access to medical and other services and has made relevant recommendations.

It was also mentioned that taking into account the special quarantine regime, the State Migration Service has removed the necessity to apply for extension of period of temporary stay in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the foreigners, who are in the territory of our country and cannot leave the country due to the above-noted reasons.

It was further mentioned that 176 convicts were pardoned in Azerbaijan according to the Presidential Order on April 6, 2020, and 10 of them were released on the basis of the Commissioner’s motions.

Moreover, it was added that the Commissioner regularly disseminates awareness raising information about quarantine regime through the official website and other social networking sites, also addresses proposals to the relevant bodies on the protection of the rights of vulnerable population groups.

During the meeting the Commissioner’s message and information regarding the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs), migrants  and children were brought to attention of the participants. It was pointed that the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of PWDs concerning the current situation were taken into consideration in the Commissioner’s message on protection of the rights of PWDs.