The Ombudsman received the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, received the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Martin Chungong.

During the meeting, the Ombudsman provided detailed information to the guest about her mandate and the activities carried out in the field of ensuring and protecting human rights and freedoms.

Speaking about her activities within the framework of international cooperation,the Ombudsman said agreements have been signed on cooperation with the ombudsman and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of numerous other countries and that bilateral relations have been developed. It was said that such cooperation facilitates the exchange of experiences in the field of human rights but also plays a crucial role in studying the good practices of the country internationally.

Toching upon the collaboration with the United Nations (UN) and other influential international institutions, gave detailed information about close cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, including its specialized agencies. The Ombudsman also highlighted the active participation of the Ombudsman institution in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), stressing the submission of periodic reports.

Sabina Aliyeva discussed the amendments related to “the Constitutional Law on Ombudsman of Azerbaijan" and said that she fulfils the functions of an independent monitoring mechanism over the implementation of the CRPD and CRC, as well as ensuring equality and preventing discrimination.

The Ombudsman discussed her activities in promoting and ensuring gender equality, protecting women's rights, and combating domestic violence and early marriages. She said about the teaching of the course "Introduction to Gender" at Baku State University and that the institution prepared a series of lectures on the same subject.

The Ombudsman also gave information about the National Preventive Mechanism's activities, stating that unannounced monitoring visits are conducted to places where persons cannot leave at their own will,  treatment and detention conditions are investigated, and the implementation of recommendations is closely followed-up.

Talking about Armenia's policy of occupation and terrorism against Azerbaijan, the Ombudsman said that during the First Karabakh War, more than 4,000 of our citizens lost their lives, and information about their fate is still not available. The Ombudsman also added that Armenia carried out mine terror during the thirty years of occupation and that this problem poses a threat to the lives and health of citizens, obstructs the right to live in a safe environment, and hinders rebuilding and reconstruction efforts in the region.

The Ombudsman said that special reports on Armenia's hate crimes and war crimes against our country have been prepared and sent to international organizations, ombudsman institutions, and NHRIs of other countries.

S. Aliyeva said that the on the eve of the presidential elections, the Ombudsman's Office and the Central Election Commission jointly organized legal and awareness-raising events on ensuring citizens' voting rights in Baku and the regions.

During the meeting, there was also a broad exchange of views on a range of mutual interest issues.