Head of the Ombudsman Office participated in the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw

Head of the Ombudsman Office of Azerbaijan, Aydin Safikhanli participated in the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting held from 16-27 October in Warsaw, Poland.  In the agenda of the meeting, democratic institutions, information and media freedom, role of civil society institutions in ensuring human rights, humanitarian issues, combating human trafficking, equal opportunities for women and men, freedom of consciousness, the rights of refugees and migrants and other issues have been discussed in different sessions.

During his speeches in sessions, A. Safikhanli spoke about human rights reforms in Azerbaijan, adopting new laws, national action programs and strategies, increased social wellbeing and the activity of the Ombudsman in the field of human rights protection and promotion. Further, it was noted that the Working Groups, in which Ombudsman is also involved, have drafted the National Action Plan on Eliminating and Combatting Domestic Violence in Azerbaijan for 2019-2023, the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2019-2024, Azerbaijan National Strategy for Children for 2019-2029. He also told about the activities of “ASAN Service” and DOST agency as national trends, which are facilitating to citizen satisfaction.

For effective ensuring human rights, envisaged in the national action programs, different awareness events and complex measures have been undertaken in close cooperation with civil society institutions and media outlets.  The Head of the Office gave broad information about the work of the Azerbaijani Commissioner for implemenetation of the Law on Access to Information, her participation in UPR and SDGs execution processes and works done for promotion of the right to equality and non-discrimination.

Safikhanli also noted that historically Azerbaijan had great reputation as a multinational, multi-linguistic, multi-religious and tolerant society, where people can enjoy their rights on equal basis irrespective of their race, religion, nationality, gender and other differences. 

During the session dedicated to the problems of refugees and IDPs, A. Safikhanli told about the measures taken by the Azerbaijani Government for protection of the rights of people, became refugees and IDPs as a result of the Armenian-Azerbaijani armed conflict over “Nagorno-Karabakh”. It was highlighted that as a consequence of this conflict, the Azerbaijani territories have been occupied, Azerbaijanis were massively displaced from their homes, their rights have been violated and cultural properties have been destructed.

The Head of the Office reminded international organizations about their obligations driven from the documents protecting IDPs rights, especially those setting forth in the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and OSCE documents on refugees and IDPs.

He also brought attention of the interstate organizations to facts that refugees have the right to return to their homes, Armenia must fulfill the requirements of international treaties and other legal documents, including four UNSC Resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh, which unconditionally demand to preserve the ceasefire and withdraw of Armenian troops from the occupied territories. However, the Armenian side breaches the norms of international law.

At the end of his speech, A. Safikhanli pointed out that in accordance with the UN Charter, Azerbaijan, as a Member State has the right to restore the rights and freedoms of its citizens.