Ombudsman held events in Correctional facility and penitentiary facility No.4 of the Penitentiary Service

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan always pays attention to the status of ensuring the rights of vulnerable groups of population, including convicted persons. The Ombudsman organized events on the occasion of December 31-Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and New Year in Correctional facility for juveniles and penitentiary facility No.4 for female convicts of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice.

The Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva, Deputy Headof the Penitentiary Service, Maharram Gafarov, representatives of civil society Novella Jafarova, Saida Gojamanli, authorized staff members of the Ombudsman Office and the Penitentiary Service took part in the events.

Firstly, the Ombudsman met with the juveniles in the Correctional facility and congratulated them on the occasion of upcoming holidays expressing her warm wishes. She gave relevant recommendations by conducting awareness discussions. After allocating festive gifts to convicted juveniles, monitoring was conducted in several units of that facility, including residential area, medical-sanitary unit, classrooms, library; recommendations were provided for further improvement of detention conditions.

After that a meeting was held in the penitentiary facility No.4 for female convicts. The Deputy Head of the Penitentiary Service, major-general Maharram Gafarov spoke about the importance of such events. He mentioned that guaranteeing security and health of persons detained in penitentiary institutions was always in the center of attention, and relevant consistent measures were taken in this direction. He noted that material-technical base of penitentiary facilities was strengthened and organizing educational work in those facilities was especially paid attention.

The Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva congratulated the participants, including the female convicts on the occasion of holidays and expressed her best wishes. She stated that it was the first meeting held with the mas the Ombudsman. They were provided with information about the activity of the institution aimed at ensuring the rights of prisoners.

It was pointed that human rights, including the rights of prisoners is paid special attention in the country under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The participants also were given broad information about comprehensive reforms implemented in the republic, achievements in the field of improving and bringing the legislation in line with international standards.

Noting the special importance of signing pardoning orders, passing amnesty acts regularly, Sabina Aliyeva added that Orders on Pardoning were signed in the country since 1996; decisions on amnesty acts were adopted. It was mentioned that as a result of implementation of Orders on Pardoning signed by the President Ilham Aliyev, thousands of convicts were released or their sentences were decreased in accordance with the legislation. On March 16, 2019, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev signed an Order on Pardoning of a group of convicted persons.  The last Amnesty Act was implemented at the initiative of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva. The Commissioner brought into attention that up to day 11 Amnesty Acts were passed, 65 Orders on Pardoning have been signed; consequently, tens of thousands of persons have been released.

According to the Ombudsman, nearly 700 persons, including female, juvenile, elderly and other convicts, have been pardoned based on the Commissioner’s motions during the institution’s term of activity in general. The Ombudsman mentioned about the necessity of not repeating infringement of law, and recommended the female convicts returning to healthy lifestyle and engaging in useful labor activity.

Within the framework of the event the Commissioner carried out visits in a range of units of the facility, including production areas, walking sides, library, club and other places. She heard complaints of some convicts, and made recommendations for further improvement of detention conditions. The corps for women with babies was also monitored; their situation was taken into consideration.

Holiday gifts were allocated by the Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva among the convicts in that facility, including those with babies.

The event continued with cultural program with participation of orchestra and soloists of Rashid Behbudov State Song Theatre.