Rehabilitation centers were monitored

By the instructions of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), Sabina Aliyeva, the Working Group (WG) on Mental Health and Human Rights at the Ombudsman, within the framework of its activities, commenced its monitoring of rehabilitation centers offering services for those with various addictions. 

According to the action program of the WG in question, the staff members of the Ombudsman Office conducted monitoring in the rehabilitation centers “Parlaq Həyat” (Bright life) for men and “Women’s rehab” (Qadınların rehabilitasiyası) for women suffering from drug addiction, alcoholism, ludomania and other addictions.   

The purpose of the monitoring organized on the basis of the “Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan,” the Law “On Psychiatric Assistance,” “the Law on Narcology Services and Supervision” was to investigate the detention conditions and treatment issues, as well as to get closely familiarized with the quality of performance in these facilities.   

To learn the situation of ensuring the rights of persons who are under rehabilitation in those centers was the primary subject of investigation for the Working Group. 

During the monitoring, confidential talks were held with the management of these facilities, staff, rehabilitated women  and men about the issues of the legal basis of those centers, documentation, nutirition, rehabilitation programs offered, treatment issues, the right to appeal.

The WG members inspected the canteen, the administrative part of the facility, the gym, the walking area, and the recreation zone.          

At the end, the management of the centers was presented with the legal educational materials prepared by the Ombudsman Office and provided with recommendations. The importance of the existence of information boards about the Ombudsman’s “916” call center and ensuring the right to appeal of patients by the facilities were underlined.  

In the course of the monitoring, a number of issues of concern were observed regarding the organization of activities in the institutions and the rehabilitation services provided. The issue is in the focus of the Ombudsman, and in this regard, it is planned to continue the monitoring process of rehabilitation centers, conduct an analysis based on the findings, and prepare relevant proposals.