Legal-awareness events were organized in the facilities of the Penitentiary Service as a part of the Ombudsman’s NPM activities

As a part of the NPM activities of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, the members of the National Preventive Group (NPG) organized legal-awareness events in the Correctional Facility and Penitentiary Institution No. 4 of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice.   

The NPG members made presentations for juveniles held in the correctional facility about the provisions of the UNCAT as well as national legislation related to the rights of detained persons. 

Furthermore, the NPG members also made a presentation on the support for the persons released from the penitentiary institutions to solve their problems, social needs, and adaptation to society. In the course of the presentation, the minor offenders were informed of the provisions of the Law of Azerbaijan on “Social Adaptation of Persons Released from Penitentiary Instiutions”. During an interactive presentation, their questions were answered and the Ombudsman’s recommendations were conveyed.  

The juveniles were privately received in the Correctional Facility in the presence of the Ombudsman Office’s staff member specializing in social work, and their appeals were listened to. During the private conversation, some issues raised by the juveniles were resolved on the spot by informing the management of the facility. 

Within the NPM jurisdiction of the Ombudsman, similar events were also organized in Penitentiary Institution No. 4. The female convicts were informed of the relevant provisions of the Law menioned above about the guarantees, state support, and social adaptation mechanisms provided to the released persons. Broad discussions were held about the issues of employment, education, and vocational training for such categories of persons, as well as the medical, social, psychological, and legal aid provided to them. 

The NPG members answered the questions related to ensuring the convicts’ rights, treatment and detention conditions, conditions of cells, personal hygiene, sanitation, organization of medical and psychological services in detail.

Afterwards, female convicts were received in private, and their appeals were listened to. They were informed of their rights and duties as provided by the legislation. Furthermore, they were also informed of the work of the Ombudsman’s round-the-clock “916” Call center.