The Ombudsman participated in a side event on the topic “Protection of Children’s Health Right in the context of Climate Change”

The Chief of Staff of the Ombudsman Institution, Aydin Safikhanli, participated in a side event on “Protection of Children’s Health Right in the context of Climate Change.”

During the event, attended by Mirzatillo Tillabayev, Deputy Director of the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan, Murodjon Turqunov, Director of the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Science of Uzbekistan, Sayyora Abdullayeva, a representative of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change and representatives from international organizations, the Chief of Staff, in his speech, noted that reliable protection and safeguarding of children’s rights are one of the key directions of the activity of the Ombudsman. He also mentioned that the Ombudsman investigates complaints about violations of child rights and takes necessary legal measures to address them. 

The Chief of Staff said that in accordance with the last changes made to the Constitutional Law on Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, monitoring groups were established in the Institution at the initiative of the Commissioner. It was said that, as every year, this year as well, the Ombudsman announced Child-Rights Month-Long Campaign, running from 20 October to 20 November and that, for the first time, child rights raising activities were organized in educational establishments located in the liberated territories. 

Noting negative effects of climate change and ecological crimes on the right to health of children, A. Safikhanli spoke about the crimes of ecocide committed by Armenia in then-occupied territories. He emphasized that the landmines laid by Armenia in those areas today also pose a serious threat to the lives and health of civilian populations, including children, adding that 358 out of over 3400 people who have fallen victims of landmines were children. 

The Chief of Staff said that the environment and biodiversity have been seriously damaged during three decades, ecocide crimes have been committed, various rare flora and fauna species have been destroyed, and water reservoirs have been polluted with harmful wastes. 

A. Safikhanli emphasized that despite the expiration of the “Metsamor” Power Plant in Armenia, which has still continued to operate and seriously polluted the environment, it has become a source of danger not only for Azerbaijan and Armenia but also for the entire region. The Ombudsman repeatedly urged the corresponding international organizations to safely and urgently shutdown the operations of this power plant in order to avoid another nuclear disaster. 

The Chief of Staff called on the international community not to be indifferent to such crimes that grossly violate the right to live in a healthy environment, threatening the environmental safety of mankind.