The Working Group on Mental Health and Human Rights at the Ombudsperson held its inaugural meeting

10 October – At the eve of the World Health Day, the Working Group on Mental Health and Human Rights at the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan held its inaugural meeting. 

The meeting brought into dialogue the ombudsperson and the head of the WG, Sabina Aliyeva, the WG Members Rector of the Medical University, DMedSc, Prof. Geray Geraybeyli, deputy of the Parliament, Malahat Ibrahimgyzy, Head of Department at the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named after Aziz Aliyev, DMedSc, Prof. Teymur Gafarov, President of the Azerbaijan Psychaitric Association, DMedSc, Prof. Nadir Ismayilov, Councilor of the Minister of the Labor and Social Protection of Population of Azerbaijan, Zhala Ahmadova, representative of the WHO Country Office, Elturan Ismayilov, Director of the National Narcology Center, Fazayil Sadigov, Chairman of the Scientific- Research Institute of Psychology, Elnur Rustamov, psychiatrists, experts, civil society members, and media outlets. 

During her opening remarks, the Ombudsperson said that the right to mental health covers the right to receive medical care, protection of people with mental health problems from stigmatization, stereotypes and discrimination, and the right to live in a safe and inclusive society. 

The Ombudsperson, stating that the right to mental health has been widely set forth in the international human rights law instruments, emphasized the importance of strengthening the national legal framework in the field of mental health and practical experiences via bringing them into conformity with international guiding principles.     

The Ombudsperson said that within her mandate, she conducts comprehensive activities for the protection of the right to mental health of the population, including conducting regular monitoring of the psychiatric institutions and making recommendations to the corresponding state authorities for the effective protection of the population groups. 

The Ombudsperson noted that the engagement of qualified specialists in the field of mental health in the work of the WG is a significant platform for preparing recommendations for the elimination of possible problems and strengthening the cooperation with state authorities.

The importance of the activity of the Ombuds institution in the protection of human rights in the field of mental health and strengthening the cooperation in this field. During the discussions, recommendations and suggestions were made for the elimination of the existing problems in the field of public awareness-raising, stigmatization and undertaking measures to enhance access to healthcare services. 

At the end, decisions were made based on the conclusions.