Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva participated in the Vienna Migration Conference

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan takes comprehensive and effective activities in the field of protection and monitoring of migrants’ rights and gives special importance to international cooperation in this area. The delegation led by the Ombudsman visited Vienna on 10-11 October 2023 at the invitation of the Internal Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) to participate in the 8^th Vienna Migration Conference. 

The conference aims to discuss global issues and bring together decision-makers and high-level stakeholders on migration management from Europe, Africa and Asia. The meeting will also conduct an exchange of views with representatives from international organizations, non-governmental organizations, media outlets, and the private sector dealing with regional and global movement, repatriation, reintegration, and other relevant fields regarding their relevant good practices and methods to find solutiond to challenges.  

During his opening speech, Michael Spindelleger, the Director General of ICMPD, stressed the importance of successful implementation of migration policies, ensuring the rights of migrants, increasing their well-being, communication for effective integration into society, cooperation of states,  and enforcement of joint projects and programs. Outlining the goals of the relevant Center to the attention of the participants, M. Spindelleger emphasized that this Vienna Migration Conference is one of the most important events in the respective field as an international platform for inclusive discussions and face-to-face meetings, contributing to further collaboration in the field of migration. He also underlined the significance of criteria for migration policy, mutual respect, and cooperation. 

Susanne Raab, the Federal Minister for Women, Family and Youth, Atilla Toros, the President of the Minister of Interior Presidency of Türkiye and his deputy, Hüseyin Kök, Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR special envoy for the Western and Central Mediterranean situation, Dimitrios Kairidis, Minister of Migration and Asylum of Greece, Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Migration, Jonas Grimheden, Head of the Fundamental Rights Office “Frontex”, and others delivered with speeches at the meeting. 

During the bilateral discussions held with M. Spindelleger within the framework of the conference, the Ombudsman gave information about the institution’s effective activity in human rights and freedoms, the restoration of violated rights, and the extension of the Ombudsman’s competences by amending the Constitutional Law on Ombudsman. It was said that the Ombudsman attaches great importance to international cooperation in the field of human rights and is a member of international and regional organizations of national human rights institutions and ombudspersons. 

Furthermore, it was given information on the state practice in protecting migrants’ rights, stating that the monitoring visits were conducted to immigration detention centers under the Ombudsman’s National Preventive Mandate. 

Throughout about 30 years, the Ombudsman noted that nearly one million of our fellow citizens are living as refugees and IDPs as a result of the occupation and ethnic cleansing policies of Armenia against Azerbaijan, and the issue of ensuring their social, economic, educational and other rights is always at the center of attention. 

Noting the significance of enhancing international cooperation in this field, the Ombudsman underlined that the ongoing cooperation with the ICMPD  aims to make activities in the migration field effective and will facilitate the application of new approaches to the protection of migrants  as members of the vulnerable population group by paying special attention to them.