Ombudsman received Belgian Ambassador in Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani Commissioner for human rights, Mrs. Elmira Suleymanova received the newly appointed ambassador of Belgium to Azerbaijan, Mr. Bert Schoofs.

At the meeting issues about perspectives of new relations, historical background of the Ombudsman Office, overall activity of the Commissioner and its four regional offices, the activity of the Office as a national preventive mechanism (NPM), competences and mandates given in accordance with the amendments made to the Constitutional Law on Ombudsman such as NPM, monitoring over implementation of access to information functions and protection of the persons with disabilities’ rights, which was also designed in comply with the Article 33.2 of the relevant UN Convention, her visits and monitoring.

The Commissioner also told about measures taken for enforcement of national action plans and programs on human rights for 1998, 2006 and 2011 years. It was also notified that purposeful and effective approach to realization of those documents created a basis for better protection of people from various categories. It was said that in order to campaign of these documents and monitor their implementation, the Commissioner organized regular public hearings with state bodies, non-governmental organizations, executive bodies, local communities in the regions of the country. 

“At the initiative of the Commissioner it has been joined to over 250 international treaties by Azerbaijan and the national legislation was brought into compliance with international norms. The priorities for the implementation UN SDGs were determined. The establishment of the National Coordinating Council was welcomed by the UN Secretary General and several international bodies” said the Commissioner.

At the end of the meeting, the diplomat thanked to the Commissioner for fruitful dialog and told about similar and common features of Azerbaijan and Belgium and he highly appreciated the Commissioner’s human rights activity by expressing his interest in mutual cooperation. The question of him were answered.