A scientific-practical conference on “The National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the Development of Human Rights in an Independent Azerbaijan” was organized by the Ombudsman Office

On 3 May, in Baku, a scientific-practical conference on the topic” The National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the Development of Human Rights in an Independent Azerbaijan”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, was organized by the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the meeting, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Adil Aliyev, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Zahid Oruj, Chairwoman of Parliament Committee on Human Rights, Ms. Hijran Huseynova, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, Mr. Siyavush Novruzov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Regional Affairs, Mr. Aziz Alekperov, Member of the Parliament, and Chairman of Board of Directors of the Western Azerbaijan Community, Ms. Novella Jafaroglu, Chairwoman of the Azerbaijan Women Rights Defense Society named after Dilara Aliyeva, members of the Parliament, Mr. Kamal Jafarov, Bahruz Maharramov, as well as Mr. Amir Aliyev, Professor of Baku State University, staff members of the Ombudsman Office, and representatives from public institutions and non-governmental organizations.

Opening the conference, the Ombudsman emphasized the exceptional role of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, whose dearest memory was always commemorated by our people, in developing and ensuring human rights in Azerbaijan and implementing significant reforms for the establishment of the ombuds institution as an independent non-judicial protection mechanism. She also noted that our country has achieved numerous important developments due to comprehensive reforms carried out by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev for the development of public-political, socio-economic, and cultural-humanitarian areas of life, strengthening our national statehood, and protecting human rights and freedoms. The Ombudsman also said that in Azerbaijan, at various times of its development, only on the initiative of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, a number of strategic documents were developed and enforced for the purpose of furthering the adequate provision of human rights and freedoms.       

She said that as a result of the initiative, attention, and concern of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, as a part of ensuring the implementation of those documents, comprehensive measures were implemented to improve human rights protection mechanisms in our country.

The Commissioner also added that the legal reforms in the field of human rights, which were started by the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, are currently being successfully continued by the country President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, with the active support of the First Vice-President, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva.

S. Aliyeva has brought to the attention of conference participants that the Ombudsman institution, as an independent institution created on the initiative of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and operating for more than 20 years, today has successfully continued mutual cooperation with legislative, executive, and judicial authorities, other relevant public institutions, as well as local self-government bodies, international organizations and civil society organizations.

During his speech, Mr. Adil Aliyev said that today, the major initiator of the development in social and political life in Azerbaijan is the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, stressing the importance for everyone of studying his life path. Stating that the fundamentals of modern judicial policy was laid precisely during the ruling years of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, A. Aliyev stressed the implementation of complex legal reforms in Azerbaijan, which also contained the Constitution of Azerbaijan that was drafted by the Commission chaired by the National Leader and adopted.

At the event, Mr. Zahid Oruj spoke on the topic "The role of Heydar Aliyev in the development of the national legislative framework on human rights" saying that during the rule period of the Great Leader in Azerbaijan, progress was made in every sector and that radical reforms were carried out in the area of ensuring human rights and freedoms.

Speaking at the conference on the topic "Heydar Aliyev and gender policy", Ms. Hijran Huseynova, noted that the National Leader Heydar Aliyev gave special importance to gender policy during his leadership in the country, and he always used every opportunity to support women.

Mr. Siyavush Novruzov, during his speech on the topic "Heydar Aliyev is the architect of the independent state of Azerbaijan", said that Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, during his leadership years, served our people with honor and was always by his side in difficult times. He also noted that the people of Azerbaijan always believed in Heydar Aliyev, that despite all the pressures, he came back to power at the insistence of the people, and therefore, the National Leader is the savior of Azerbaijan.

Mr. Aziz Alakbarov delivered a speech on "The return of West Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands has always been the focus of the attention of the National Leader". He said that Great Leader Heydar Aliyev had a great role in the formation of national thought even in the Soviet era. It was also underlined that the National Leader always keeps in mind the problems of the world's Azerbaijanis, including Western Azerbaijanis.

Ms. Novella Jafaroglu spoke on the topic "Heydar Aliyev's role in the formation of civil society in Azerbaijan," where she emphasized that the National Leader and phenomenal personality Heydar Aliyev saved Azerbaijan from disintegration with his return to power.

During his speech on "Heydar Aliyev and youth policy", deputy Mr. Kamal Jafarov said that Great Leader Heydar Aliyev is the greatest defender of the rights of our people and that he had an exceptional role in conveying the right voice of Azerbaijan to the world. He also stated that special importance is given to young people in our country, and many related reforms were implemented both by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and his worthy follower, President Ilham Aliyev.

Making a speech on "Heydar Aliyev and judicial and legal reforms", deputy Mr. Bahruz Maharramov brought attention to the fact that extensive judicial law reforms were implemented during the reign of the Great Leader, and important laws in this field were adopted for the first time during that period.

Professor Amir Aliyev of Baku State University noted that the Great Leader, from the very beginning of his rule, has done work to train national personnel in the field of law, and as a result of his successful policy, great contributions were made to legal science at the national level, while speaking on "The role of Heydar Aliyev in the development of legal science and education in Azerbaijan".

The scientific-practical conference continued its work with discussions.

During the conference, Ms. Jafaroglu, Ms. Saadat Banyarli, and Ms. Saida Gojamanli were awarded by the Ombudsman, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, with the jubilee medal created on the occasion of the 20th anniversary (2002-2022) of the Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan, for their activities in the field of protection of human rights and freedoms.