Appeal of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the announcement of the “Human Rights Month”

By the approval of the first “State Program on the Protection of Human Rights” in the Republic of Azerbaijan on June 18, 1998, by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the protection of human rights was identified as one of the main directions of state policy, thereby establishing a strong foundation for consistent and systematic activity in this field in our country.

June 18 was proclaimed Human Rights Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan by the decree dated June 18, 2007, of the country’s President, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continued the human rights policy established by the Great Leader and further advanced it in line with the demands of the modern era. 

Each year, on the eve of this significant day, on the initiative of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, the period from May 18 to June 18 is declared “Human Rights Month”. Various events dedicated to human rights are held across the country, and this has already become a tradition. In line with this tradition, on the eve of June 18 — Human Rights Day in Azerbaijan, we hereby declare the period from May 18 to June 18 of the current year as “Human Rights Month” (hereinafter the month-long campaign) in the country.

The main goal of the month-long campaign is to make better the efforts to protect human rights and freedoms, follow international treaties that the country has agreed to, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and comply with relevant legislative acts and state programs, strategies, national action plans, concepts, and other important documents.

Furthermore, key objectives also include strengthening the fight against discrimination, early marriage, violence, drug addiction, and corruption; increasing public legal awareness and legal culture; and the progress achieved in the process of raising public awareness, the current situation, and the existing challenges in human rights protection.

In the modern era, human rights challenges have become more complex. Digital transformation, the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies, changes in the information environment, climate change, and post-conflict realities require the adoption of new approaches in this field. In this context, the protection of rights in the digital environment, ensuring the security of personal data, combating disinformation, the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence, and the development of a legal culture among young people are of particular importance.

In addition, the protection of socially vulnerable groups, the development of an inclusive society, the expansion of equal access to social services, and strengthened legal awareness efforts remain key priorities. In the post-conflict period, particular attention is also required to ensure a safe living environment, to expand mine risk awareness activities, and to implement reintegration processes in line with human rights principles.

The declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” underscores the close interconnection between the urban environment and human rights. In this regard, the creation of a safe, healthy, and inclusive living environment, ensuring accessibility for vulnerable groups, protecting ecological balance, and strengthening public participation in decision-making constitute essential conditions for the effective realization of human rights.

Taking into account the above-mentioned challenges, it is considered necessary to expand legal awareness activities on current topics related to human rights during this month-long campaign.

In this regard, we call on state bodies, municipalities, science, education, culture facilities, medical and social services, penitentiaries, civil society organizations - non-governmental organizations (public associations and foundations), media entities, and trade unions, as well as other relevant institutions and institutions to organize various educational events and public awareness campaigns, prepare and distribute educational materials among the population, and actively participate in the wide coverage of the events and social videos on media and digital platforms in order to hold the month-long campaign at a high level.

By the way, as a concluding event of the month-long campaign, the Baku Summit of Ombudspersons is planned to be held in Baku city on June 18–19, 2026. The theme of the summit will be “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks, and Responsibilities.” This event will contribute to the international discussions on contemporary challenges in the field of human rights. During this month-long campaign, the Baku Declaration will facilitate the exchange of views and experiences on the topic and support the adoption of strengthening international cooperation. 

You are kindly requested to ensure activities carried out during the month-long campaign are broadly broadcasted by media, as well as to share related content on social media platforms using the hashtags #İnsanHüquqlarıAylığı and #HumanRightsMonth.

Finally, we believe that special sensitivity will be shown toward the promotion, protection, and fulfillment of the rights of all groups of the population, including families of martyrs, war veterans, mine victims, persons with disabilities, children, the elderly, refugees, formerly internally displaced persons, and migrants. We also confident that awareness-raising activities in this field will be further expanded and that a high level of engagement will be demonstrated in promptly and comprehensively informing the public about the work carried out, as well as in ensuring its coverage across media and digital platforms. We express our gratitude in advance for your support and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights 

of the Republic of Azerbaijan 

(Ombudsman)

18 May 2026