The International Baku Forum of Ombudsmen "Climate Change and Human Rights: The Role of Ombudsmen and NHRIs" was held

The International Baku Forum of Ombudsmen "Climate Change and Human Rights: The Role of Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)" was held at the initiative of the Azerbaijan Ombudsman and with the support of the State.

The event, organized to discuss the challenges posed by global climate change and their solutions from a human rights perspective, as well as to share positive experiences in this field, brought together in total over 200 participants, including 60 participants from about 30 countries. The ombudsmen and representatives of NHRIs, information commissioners, high-ranking state officials, leaders and representatives of civil society and several international organizations, and climate change and human rights experts took part in the event.

Farid Ahmadov, the Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan, conveyed President Ilham Aliyev's message to the Forum participants.

The message highlights the severe consequences of Armenia's three-decade military aggression so far, posing great danger to human lives and the environment. It was noted that Armenia committed acts of ecocide, urbicide, and culturicide in the territories held under occupation for a long time, polluting and poisoning our lands and rivers, destroying our forests, and demolishing our cities and villages. Furthermore, numerous landmines, which cost human lives and cause significant environmental damage, were planted in these areas. The message also emphasized the destruction of cultural heritage of global significance and the devastation of religious and cultural sites belonging to Azerbaijanis.

The message also states that the theme of the International Baku Forum holds special relevance for all of humanity, as climate change is one of the global problems threatening the sustainable development and security of all countries. It was noted that climate change poses significant challenges in terms of the protection and fulfillment of fundamental human rights.

In her opening speech, the Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, expressed her deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his message to the participants of the Forum.

The Ombudsman said that global climate change creates a number of problems for the environment, the sustainable development of countries, and the protection of human rights. She emphasized that the impacts of climate change are not limited to the territory of just one country or region and stressed the importance of increasing attention to ensuring the right to live in a healthy environment.

The Ombudsman highlighted that our lands were occupied by Armenia for nearly thirty years and noted the severe environmental damage and harm to biodiversity in those areas during this period, calling attention to the crime of ecocide. She emphasized that various rare species of plants and animals of Azerbaijan were destroyed, and rivers flowing through our territories were heavily polluted with harmful substances, posing a serious threat to the life and health of the population.

Speaking about Armenia’s landmine terrorism in our territories during the occupation, the Ombudsman stated that since the Second Karabakh War, nearly 380 people have become victims of landmines. It was highlighted that the buried landmines hinder the safe return of former IDPs to their lands and obstruct the reconstruction and building efforts in the region. In addition, she noted that landmine explosions have disrupted the ecological balance in the region.

S. Aliyeva noted that Azerbaijan places special emphasis on combating the negative effects of climate change and the potential risks arising from it, in line with the commitments derived from the UN SDGs, emphasizing ongoing comprehensive initiatives to protect the environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Mukhtar Babayev, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and the designated President of COP29, stated, in his speech, that climate change and its negative impacts on the environment are among the major problems that concern the world. It was pointed out that climate change exacerbates inequality and vulnerable groups are the most affected category.

Alessandra Roccasalvo, the UNDP Resident Representative in Azerbaijan, noted that the Forum serves as an important platform for both seeking solutions to existing problems and for training future leaders. She provided information about the "Climate Change and Human Rights" research competition organized jointly by UNDP and the Ombudsman Office, emphasizing the significance of the central role of youth in climate action.

Noura Zaid Alrshoud, the OIC-IPHRC Secretariat Executive Director, said that deforestation, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, the pollution of rivers, and the indiscriminate placement of landmines in civilian and military objects cause significant harm to the environment. She emphasized that such actions severely violate the principles of international human rights and humanitarian law.

The Executive Director also said that climate change and its consequences negatively impact the effective realization of human rights, emphasizing that NHRIs play a crucial role in addressing climate change.

Subsequently, the conference participants watched a video message from Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The event also featured the award ceremony for the winners of the Ombudsman / UNDP Joint Student Research Paper Competition "Climate Change and Human Rights".

The forum continued its work in panel sessions on: "Support strategies for NHRIs and ombudsman offices in climate change initiatives," "Public access to information on climate change and its effects," "Cooperation Perspectives and collaborative development," "Climate change and its intersection with Landmines and Explosive remnants of war (ERW)," and " Fostering business accountability in the context of climate change."

Presentations on various topics were heard during the sessions, and extensive discussions took place. 

Also, calls for action and future cooperation prospects were thoroughly discussed.

In conclusion, the Declaration of the International Baku Forum of Ombudsmen was announced and unanimously adopted. The declaration will contribute to strengthening the role of ombudsmen and NHRIs in addressing ecological issues, as well as to raising awareness in the relevant field.