Ombudsman reported at the public discussion on the Development of Family and Marriage Relationships: Challenges, Reforms, and Perspectives

On 18 May-18 June 2022 during the “Human Rights Month”, the Ombudsman Office and Ministry of Justice jointly organized a public discussion on “Development of Family and Marriage Relationships: Challenges, Reforms, and Perspectives”.

The Ombudsman Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, Ms. Hijran Huseynova, a Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Family, Women and Child Issues, and Aynur Sabitova, a Head Ministry of Justice Human Rights and Public Relations Department delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.   

Furthermore, the Ombudsman, during her speech, noted that national family policy aims at the maintenance of a family, further strengthening the family values and transferring these values to the next generations.

S. Aliyeva also said that NHRIs have a great role in preventing law violations regarding family relationships as a non-judicial protection mechanism. In this regard, the Ombudsman said that she received complaints mainly about domestic violence, non-payment of child support payments, non-compliance with judgments on the right of a parent to communicate with the child, guardianship and custody issues, early marriage, and others about which the necessary investigations were conducted.    

Besides, the Ombudsman noted that child abuse cases and early marriage information disseminated through the mass and social media are checked in a prompt manner and kept in focus. It was said the importance of amending the current relevant legislation in order to solve the key problems about the family institution, carry out awareness-raising activities, and formation of public condemnation.     

It was also reported about proposals included in the Annual Reports to address the failure to pay alimonies as one of the key problems complained about. The Ombudsperson noted the necessity for relevant agencies to identify socially vulnerable families and take the necessary measures, and stressed the need to improve the work of local executive authorities, and commissions for the protection of the rights and affairs of minors.

She said that it is necessary to improve the activity of local executive bodies, commissions’ on the issues of adolescents, and protection of the rights, referring to the question of identifying families being at social risk and the importance of taking the necessary measures.

Emphasizing the importance of the adoption of legislative acts and strategic documents to prevent domestic violence, and ensure gender equality and child rights at the national level, the Ombudsman said that if the strategic programs on family planning are adopted, it will strengthen the measures in this field.  

It was also reiterated the close cooperation built between the Ombudsman Office and the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry was requested regarding the vast majority of complaints.

Further, A. Safikhanli from the Ombudsman Office, and representatives of the Ministry of Justry, Bar Association, Mediation Council, Yasamal District, and civil society institutions spoke at the panel sessions and discussions.  

In the end, public discussion participants exchanged their views on various topics of family-marriage relationships.