Ombudsman’s representative spoke about the activity for prevention of discrimination at the ECRI’s High-Level Conference

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) under the French Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers organized High-Level Conference for its 25th anniversary that took place in Paris from 26-27 September, 2019. Azerbaijani Ombudsman was represented by Zaur Valimammadli, Head of International Relations Unit and Sabuhi Abbasov, Head of the Ganja Regional Office.

This conference brought together the European Commissioner for Human Rights, the President of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Chief of the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section at UN OHCHR, high representatives of the CoE, ombudsmen of the CoE Member States, heads of the national human rights institutions.

During his speech following congratulations of the Commission members on the 25th anniversary, Z. Valimammadli pointed out that during the activity of the Ombudsman in the field of prevention of discrimination special attention was always paid to study of international experience.

Thus, it was noted that the Azerbaijani Ombudsman was involved into the joint CoE/EU Good Governance Partnership regional project “Strengthening the access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in Eastern Partnership countries”.  Further, it was stressed that this project envisages training of experienced personnel as well as carrying out educational activities in our country.

Ombudsman’s representative also underlined the fact that awareness events, organized within the Ombudsman’s public hearings in regions effectively influenced to the work of local executive authorities, civil society and the media towards combating discrimination. He emphasized that it was essential to enhance legal awareness on identification of hate speech or discrimination cases. Therefore, as an Ombudsman of the country, with multicultural values has carried out educational work with hundreds of people across the region, including minorities.

During the event, the representative of the Ombudsman Office conveyed the written congratulation message of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman to Jean-Paul Lehner, Chairman of ECRI.

During this visit, in the framework of the Joint CoE/EU Good Governance Project as a focal point of this project at the Azerbaijani Ombudsman Office, Z. Valimammadli also attended a Meeting devoted to this Project together with other focal points from Eastern Partnership countries. He informed the CoE representatives about Ombudsman's proposals concerning improving the work of the regional offices in relation to the project.

Furthermore, he also stated that proposals will be prepared for strengthening of the Ombudsman’s competence with regard to effective protection of the rights of victims of discrimination, hate speech and hate crime underlining also that the Commissioner was designated to carry out the implementation, coordination and evaluation of the National Program of Action for improving the efficiency of protection of human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan.

CoE representatives welcomed the activities of the Ombudsman in the area of combating discrimination and the aforementioned proposals.