Ombudsman received new Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ms. Sabina Aliyeva received Mr. Peter Michalko, a newly appointed Head of Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, the Azerbaijani Ombudsman welcomed the Ambassador and briefed him about her human rights activity during the post-war period and fact-finding missions to the conflict-affected civilian objects. The Ombudsman also spoke about her Statements and Reports about the facts of attacks on civilians and civilian objects, mine problems, existing in the liberated areas, which were addressed to international organizations, and presented related documents to the guest. S. Aliyeva said that those reports have been sent to the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights as well. 

In the light of the repatriation of refugees and IDPs to their own homelands and the revival of life in those areas, the Ombudsman stressed the importance of demining the areas, mined during the occupation by Armenia, as soon as possible.

Later, the Ombudsman said that the Ombudsman Institution joined the 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 and added that within the project, currently, a series of awareness-raising training is holding in the regions. Ms. Sabina Aliyeva said that measures are taking to expand her mandate in the fight against discrimination.

The guest was also informed that in order to strengthen relations between the Ombudsman institution and civil society organizations at the initiative of the Ombudsman, training on good governance is being organized in the regions for government officials and civil society.

The meeting also focused on the issues of protection of the rights of children and people with disabilities. S. Aliyeva said that active work was carried out to protect women's rights and eliminate domestic violence, and work continued in this direction. The Ambassador, in turn, said that such issues will be taken into account.

Furthermore, at the meeting, the Ombudsman made a number of proposals for joint cooperation with the EU.

In conclusion, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva wished the Ambassador success in his new job.

Mr. Peter Michalko thanked the Ombudsman for the warm welcome and demonstrated interest in expanding relations between his organization and the Ombudsman Institution in the field of protection of human rights and freedoms.