The Ombudsman received the representatives of the OSCE ODIHR election observation mission

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva received legal and media analysts Enira Bronitskaya and Kira Kalinina from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) election observation mission (EOM) for the February 9, 2020, the Parliamentary elections.

Greeting the guests, the Ombudsman noted the implementation of the extensive reforms in the country to protect human rights and stressed that electoral rights are priority issues. She mentioned the importance of the February 9 Parliamentary elections. The Ombudsman added that the Election Code was further improved with the necessary additions and amendments, the polling stations were provided with modern equipment and information technologies, web cameras were installed and regular awareness raising activities were held among the population. She spoke about the continious actions taken by the Ombudsman Office in the field of human rights, including protection of citizens’ suffrage, establishment of close cooperation with the Central Election Commission, holding joint awareness-raising events, training seminars on electoral law.

Staff members of the Ombudsman Office and the regional centers regularly participated as independent observers in the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections, also in the referendums of 2009 and 2016 in our country, throughout Baku and regions, settlements in which refugees and IDPs reside, some military units, penitentiary institutions of the Ministry of Justice and pre-trial detention facilities and gained sufficient experience in this field. Furthermore, detailed information was provided about the observation of municipal elections in December 2019. It was noted that the Commissioner, staff members of the Ombudsman Office and regional centers will monitor the forthcoming Parliamentary elections as observers on their own initiative.

The guests expressed their gratitude to the Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva for the warm reception and gave information about the main purpose and activities of the represented EOM.

While answering the questions of guests, the Ombudsman talked about provision of human rights and freedoms, including election rights,  as one of the priority issues in our country and outlined the activities carried out in this direction. It was noted that the continuation of specialized courses on the electoral law for members of election commissions was enshrined in the paragraph 3.10 of the National Program for Action to Raise Effectiveness of the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms in the Republic of Azerbaijan which was approved by the Presidential Order dated December 27, 2011.

It was also emphasized that ensuring and protecting the rights of various population groups, including women’s rights and gender equality have a special place in the Ombudsman’s activity, and awareness raising work is conducted to ensure the active participation of women in governance and decision-making processes.

Sabina Aliyeva expressed her hope for active participation of the population in the forthcoming elections and condution of the elections in a democratic, fair, transparent way and in compliance with international standards.