Sabina Aliyeva, Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan, participated in the online meeting of the Board of Directors of the Association of Ombudsmen of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OICOA). At the meeting the 2025 Action Plan of the Association and future directions of cooperation in the field of human rights were discussed.
In her speech, the Ombudsman, speaking about the work of the Association over the past year, stressed the importance of international cooperation to address global human rights issues. She noted that ombuds institutions should play an active role in protecting human rights, underlining the significance of a joint struggle against violations of international law.
Drawing attention to the severe impacts of armed conflicts on people, S. Aliyeva said that women, children and the elderly are the most affected categories. She expressed her regret over the neglet of international legal norms and highlighted the need for ombudspersons to collaborate in addressing such issues.
While talking about forced migration as one of the most important challenges of the modern era, the Ombudsman underlined that as a result of Armenia's ethnic cleansing policy, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were turned into refugees by being forcibly evicted from their native lands and subsequently, had their fundamental rights violated. The Ombudsman informed the participants on the measures taken to protect the rights of these people and ensure their safe return to their homes.
Emphasizing the importance of holding awareness-raising events on forced migration within the framework of the OIC OA activitiies this year, the Ombudsman underlined that such initiatives will significantly contribute to protecting and promoting human rights.
The meeting continued with a mutual exchange of views and discussions.
