Ombudsman delivered a speech in the roundtable dedicated to the rights of IDPs

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) organized a roundtable on the topic of “Assistance by the UNHCR to IDPs in Azerbaijan”. The meeting was aimed at expanding networking and coordination work and brought together representatives from state bodies, international organizations, NGOs and mass media.

The Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova, chairman of the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Rovshan Rzayev, deputy head of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Sadagat Gahramanova, UN Resident Coordinator Ghulam Isaczai, UNCHR’s Country representative Guido Ambroso made presentations in the event. They stressed upon the issue of directing public attention to more effective protection of the rights of refugees and IDPs, implementation of more operative mechanisms to achieve development in this field and the necessity of participation, cooperation and mass character in this process.

In her speech, the Commissioner mentioned about the occupation of seven rayons in the early 90s, emergence of more than one million refugee and IDP people, achievement of suspension in this process by the return of Heydar Aliyev to the power and signing of ceasefire agreement. She told that 70 million of more than seven billion world population are refugee and IDP people, whereas in Azerbaijan refugees and IDPs comprise 10 percent of its 10 million-population. They were forced to leave their native lands as a result of military aggression and occupation of our territories, consequently, almost all of their fundamental human rights and freedoms of were violated.

At the same time, the Commissioner brought into attention the features of the refugee and IDP problem in Azerbaijan; its sudden and unexpected occurrence, massive character, poor economic status and instability ruling in the country at that period. She reminded that the first revenues earned from the oil production were directed to improvement of the social-economic state of the IDPs, after the signing of the “Contract of the Century” 25 years before at the initiative of the National leader Heydar Aliyev.

The Ombudsman pointed out that in 2007 liquidation of tent camps for IDPs was completed, those people were relocated to the settlements, built for them and supplied with modern and full infrastructure. It was mentioned that the implementation of more reliable implementation and protection of rights of compatriots in that group, measures to cover their needs are successfully realized under the instructions and leadership of the President Ilham Aliyev.

She touched upon the role of the first State Program on Human Rights, the National Action Plan and the National Action Program, currently being implemented, within rapid, systemic and sustainable development of human rights of all the population groups, including the refugees and IDPs.

The Ombudsman noted that the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of occupying forces from the occupied areas of Azerbaijan, the fact of occupation by Armenia were reflected in the well-known UN Security Council resolutions of 1993, and also in many other decisions and resolutions of international organizations. It should be mentioned that the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement also set out establishing conditions or providing means for IDPs’ voluntary, safe return in dignity to their homes or places of habitual residence.

It was noted that provision of social needs of refugees and IDPs, realization of their education, health and other rights are in the Commissioner’s focus of attention. Thus, activities are developed in close cooperation with the corresponding committee, other authorized bodies and NGOs. The status of ensuring their rights, problems, shortcomings and appeals is analyzed, and the proposals addressed by the Ombudsman Office to the relevant bodies on the basis of those results are gradually implemented.

E. Suleymanova mentioned that the relations of the Office with the UNHCR and UNICEF are broadened, continuous actions were taken for raising awareness of people from this vulnerable group of population and explaining ways of elimination of problems when they occur. Within this cooperation, large-scale awareness raising events with regard to promotion of children’s rights, as well as prevention of violence against children and women have been held in the regions, which were densely settled by IDPs.

It was reported that the Commissioner and her specialized advisor regularly meet with those people, and this direct contact is of special importance. Problems of this population group have been resolved as a result of actions carried out to ensure their education, health, employment rights, providing soft loans to engage in entrepreneurship, involvement in self-employment, allocation of a plot of land for planting and so on.

It was especially emphasized that the extensive repair and improvement work was carried out, normal conditions of living were created in the liberated Jojug Marjanli village of Jabrayil rayon under the instruction and control of the country President Ilham Aliyev.

At the end of the event the Commissioner recommended conducting joint monitoring and assessment, as well as implementation of SDGs, Global Compact for Refugees and other international instruments.

Members of the civil society participating in the event also sounded their opinions and proposals with regard to the subject.