The Ombudsman received the Head of the EU Delegation in Azerbaijan

The Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, received the head of the European Union Delegation in Azerbaijan, Peter Michalko.

At the meeting, the Ombudsman gave extensive information to the guest about the areas of activity, including gender equality and the protection of women's rights. It was underlined that in the Reports for 2022 and previous years, the Ombudsman made a number of recommendations to improve the social situation of women and effectively ensure their rights.

S. Aliyeva said that under her National Preventive Mechanism mandate, she and NPG members conducted regular preventive visits to investigate the situation of protection of the detainees’ rights, their detention conditions, and treatment issues. In addition, it was noted that the Ombudsman submits motions to the country’s President with regard to granting pardons based on the appeals of the convicts and their family members, and actively participates in the meetings of the Amnesty Commission. It was said a total of 805 convicts were pardoned at the Ombudsman’s solicitations, and 31 in 2022.

The Ombudsman also highlighted that during the past years, a regional project on  “Strengthening access to justice for the victims of discrimination or hate crimes via non-judicial mechanisms in the Eastern Partnership countries” within the framework of the joint CoE/EU Program on Partnership for Good Governance made a significant contribution to the strengthening of activities in the field of combating discrimination.

Also, at the meeting, S. Aliyeva emphasized that she is interested in further increasing the professional capacity of the staff of the Ombudsman's Office, as well as in cooperation in the protection of personal data, in which, according to her, it is necessary the technical support of the EU.

The guest thanked S. Aliyeva for the warm reception and noted that he would do his best to support the strengthening of bilateral cooperation. Speaking on the Ombudsman Institution’s participation in the awareness-raising project on the Istanbul Convention and other gender equality standards in Azerbaijan, supported by the EU, P. Michalko stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in this and other human rights projects.

At the end, the guest was presented with a postage stamp issued on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Ombudsman Institution, as well as informative booklets and leaflets.