Staff Members of the Ombudsman Office Participate in an Experience Exchange at HREIT

At the initiative of Sabina Aliyeva, the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, Ombudsman Office staff members Shahla Aslanova, Azer Isali, and Afsana Aliyeva from the Equality and Discrimination Monitoring Department, along with Polad Jafarzada from the Department for Prevention of Torture, participated in an experience exchange program organized by the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye (HREIT) in Ankara on July 20–24.

Carried out in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ombuds Office of Azerbaijan and HREIT, the purpose of the visit was to study the advanced practices of HREIT as an equality body, share the good experiences of the Azerbaijan ombuds institution, and further develop cooperation.

As part of the program, trainees attended HREIT seminars on 'Human Rights and the Right to Equality' to share their experiences and knowledge in this field. Trainees gave presentations to university students in the program, explaining in detail how the Azerbaijan Ombudsman Institution activities work as an independent body to protect and promote the rights of PWDs and children’s rights, as well as its role in prevent torture as an NPM.

During the visit, the delegation visited the various HREIT structural units and gained first-hand insight into the institution's mandate, the handling of applications, the protection of the right to equality and prevention of discrimination, legal awareness-raising activities, and NPM visits, as well as its international cooperative actions.

In addition, round-table discussions featuring staff members from both institutions were held on the protection of child rights, prevention of discrimination, and the protection and promotion of the PWDs’ rights. During the discussions, HREIT shared its complaint investigation practices, and presented examples of adopted decisions, and annual and thematic reports prepared within the framework of the national monitoring mechanism, as well as awareness-raising publications and digital applications. In turn, representatives of the Ombuds Institution of Azerbaijan provided comprehensive information on the processing of applications in accordance with the Constitutional Law, activities as an independent monitoring mechanism, and educational events organized by the institution in this field.

At the end of the visit, certificates were awarded for successfully completing the program.