A staff member of the Ombudsman Institution spoke at the online meeting of ENNHRI CRPD WG

The Azerbaijan Ombudsman Institution attaches particular importance to the exchange of experience in various fields of human rights protection within the framework of its international cooperation. In this light, as a member of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), the Institution is continuously represented in the Working Group on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD WG).

The agenda of the WG’s next meeting, held in an online format, focused on reflection of reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities (PWD) in national legal systems in member states. The meeting brought together members from NHRIs of Germany, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, France, Slovenia, and Sweden. They shared information on reasonable accommodation in their existing legal frameworks.

During her presentation, Shahla Aslanova, Chief Adviser of the Unit for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Ombudsman Institution and a member of the WG, gave detailed information on the existing national legal norms reflecting reasonable accommodation. She emphasized that the concept of reasonable accommodation is provided for in the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” and that the denial of such an accommodation constitutes discrimination. Participants were also informed about the relevant decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers concerning the reasonable adaptation of infrastructure facilities, as well as the procedure for submitting applications through the “e-social” platform.

It was also noted that, on the basis of findings obtained during monitoring visits carried out under the Ombudsman’s independent monitoring mechanism mandate, recommendations for the protection and realization of the rights of PWDs are prepared and formally submitted to the relevant authorities.

Following the presentations, a question-and-answer session was held among the WG members.