The staff of the Ombudsman Office visited Austria during the MOBILAZE-2 Project

A training course was organized in Austria for the staff-in-charge of the Ombudsman Office of Azerbaijan  on the "Strengthening of potentials in the field of protection of human rights in migration management" component of the ICMPD-organized and EU-funded Project on “Support to the Implementation of the Mobility Partnership with Azerbaijan (MOBILAZE-2)”, of which the Ombudsman Institution is a partner.

Mr. Aydin Safikhanli, Chief of the Staff of the Ombudsman Office, Ms. Turan Jahangirova, and Ms. Aynur Hamidova, heads of the units at the Office, are participating in that course.

On the first day of the training, a meeting was held with Mr. Radim Zak, the head of Region Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the International Center for the Development of Migration Policy (ICMPD), in the Vienna Office of the Organization and presentations were made on the forced return of migrants.

During the meeting, Mr. Safikhanli said that the Azerbaijan Ombudsman Institution is the main partner of international projects, including the EU-funded MOBILAZE-2 Project of the ICMPD, in which the Institution closely participates in the enforcement of the project. It was brought also added that in the frame of the project, joint printing materials were prepared, various trainings were organized for state institutions, and other activities under the project continued successfully.

He also noted that Azerbaijan's lands, which had been under occupation for 30 years, were liberated as a result of the 44-day Patriotic War, and control over the borders of those territories was again transferred to Azerbaijan. It was stated that during the occupation, the border with Iran was used for human trafficking, smuggling, drug business, and other various criminal acts. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen management and provision of technical support at the borders currently under Azerbaijan's full control, develop potentials and assess the needs in other areas, and develop and implement a new conceptual approach.

Speaking later, Ms. Jahangirova highlighted that the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan investigates the appeals of migrants at all stages of the migration cycle, taking into account their individual needs. In her speech, she gave extensive information about bilateral and multilateral cooperation of the Azerbaijan Ombudsman with other ombudspersons, national preventive mechanism mandate, monitoring of detention centers, implementation of migration procedures and activities in the field of ensuring and promoting the rights of migrants. The importance of joint action, especially regarding the rights of migrants from vulnerable groups was emphasized.

Ms. Hamidova also, in her speech, provided information about the activities of the Ombudsman in ensuring the right of access to information, especially the measures undertaken towards the protection of migrants, and educational publications prepared for foreigners.

Mr. Zak as an ICMPD representative highly appreciated the multifaceted work of the Azerbaijan Ombudsman in the field of migration, saying that they are interested in future joint cooperation. He also said that the suggestions made will be considered.

In the end, Mr. Zak was presented with a stamp dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Ombudsman Institution, numerous educational publications produced by the Institution, Ombudsman’s e-collection of reports, statements, and appeals on the investigation of the IHL violations against Azerbaijan.

Later the staff members of the Ombudsman held a meeting at the Austrian Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum. During the meeting, the parties exchanged mutual information, experience, and ideas in the concerned field.