The Ombudsman's National Preventive Group continues its visits to children's institutions during 'Child Rights Month'

The Ombudsman's National Preventive Group (NPG) members conducted a visit to the Ministry of Justice Penitentiary Service's Correctional Facility during "Child Rights Month" announced by Sabina Aliyeva, the Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan.

The purpose of the visit conducted on the basis of the requirements of the OPCAT and CRC, the Constitutional Law "On the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan" was to investigate the detention conditions and treatment of children kept and educated in the facility, and to monitor the state of ensuring juveniles’ rights in the institution.

To investigate behavioral issues, individual interviews were conducted with the management of the correctional facility, employees, and juveniles.

The employees of the Ombudsman Institution’s Child Rights Protection Unit, training sessions trained juveniles, psychologists, and educators in the institution, where extensive information was given about the existing international treaties on the rights of children, national legislative acts, and legal protection tools. During the training, the issues related to non-discrimination, protection from mistreatment and violence, child labor, and protection from harmful impacts were also covered.

In the end, relevant recommendations based on national legislation and international documents regarding further improvement of detention conditions, medical care, and documentation were given to the management of the institution and responsible employees.

Legal education publications prepared in the Ombudsman Office, including booklets related to the activity of the National Preventive Mechanism, were presented to the facility.