Delegation of the Council of Europe was received at Ombudsman Office

A meeting was held at the Ombudsman Office with the delegation of the Council of Europe (CoE) headed by Naomi Trewinnard, senior project officer on “End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse @ Europe” within a fact-finding visit to Azerbaijan.

The aim of the meeting was to discuss the legislation, policies and practices in Azerbaijan on online child exploitation and abuse, relevant activity of the Ombudsman and assess the support opportunities about conducted analysis and research.

The Head of Office Aydin Safikhanly, heads of departments Rashid Rumzada and Faig Aghayev took part at the meeting.

A.Safikhanly informed the guests about the Commissioner’s broad activity in protecting and promoting children’s rights, cooperation with UNICEF and UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, raising awareness of children, parents and persons working with them, Child Rights Month-long Campaign, “916” hotline service. It was noted that adoption of Law on Protecting Children from Harmful Information was proposed in the Commissioner’s annual reports and was then realized.

They were informed that considering the Commissioner’s proposals, “Azercell” company has taken actions for ensuring safety of children, including preventing children’ access to illegal websites, informing parents directly when the child is on the internet, passing statistical data of calls and messages, controlling friend list changes in social networks or posts including the child’s name, launching “Azercell plus Safety”.

Monitoring of children’s establishments by the Commissioner as National Preventive Mechanism, proposal and recommendations for state bodies within cooperation regarding juveniles were also noted.

They were informed that it was proposed in annual reports to ratify the CoE Convention on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, known as the Lanzarote Convention, signed by our country at the initiative of the Ombudsman. Furthermore, the Law on Protection of Children against Corporal Punishment was developed jointly with the UNICEF experts, submitted to Milli Mejlis.

It was stated that proposals were put forward for broadcasts considering children and youth, showing programs including harmful content at certain times, enhancing control over this, etc.

Information was provided about the Azerbaijan Child and Youth Peace Network, Hierarchic Child Rights Education project and propagating safe use of the internet through this mean as well.

The effective activity of the institution within ENOC and ENYA, film-projects on violence and mental health prepared by children themselves were also highlighted.

Numerous questions of the delegation were answered in the meeting. In the end, the guests thanked for sincere reception and exchange of views, expressed interest for future effective cooperation.