Ombudsman Representatives have participated in seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction

The Ombudsman representatives have participated in the capacity-building seminar on “Involvement of Vulnerable Groups of population to disaster risk reduction “jointly launched by the Ministry of Emergency, EUR-OPA, UNICEF and IOM Country Office. Ombudsman Office was represented by Turan Jahangirova and Mugalib Mahmudov.

The aim of this seminar was to bring together international partners, state authorities, interested parties, civil society institutions and local NGOs and experts specifically focused on ensuring rights of the vulnerable persons from the disaster risk reduction point of view. The presentations about analysis of current situation in the field of protection of vulnerable groups from disasters in Azerbaijan, relevant international good practices -projects and instruments, reduction of risks focusing on the vulnerable groups: difficulties of inclusive fire safety, pointing out to the fact of how migrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, the disabled persons, children, the elderly should be protected. The best fitted to Azerbaijan scenery has been discussed.

Ombudsman’s representatives have spoken about the activity of the Commissioner for ensuring the right to safety enshrined in international treaties ratified by Azerbaijan. It was noted that in the 10^th of the annual conference of ombudspersons “Human rights protection during emergencies: problems and opportunities” held in Baku, the issues about disaster risks and elimination of them, protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, ensuring the right to safety and protection of ecological rights during emergencies have been discussed.

It was stated the importance of rescuing of the vulnerable groups during natural and man-made disasters, helping the victims of disaster, including complex repairing of their houses, providing them with other housing, supporting them financially, in terms of ensuring the rights of citizens to safety and property.

It was also underlined that involvement of the vulnerable groups of population in disaster risk reduction measures, their training in the concerned field and teaching them how to properly behave in such situations serve to ensuring their right to life as well.