Members of the National Preventive Group of the Ombudsman conducted visits to special and sanatorium type boarding schools

According to the instructions of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, the members of the National Preventive Group (NPG) of the Ombudsman conducted scheduled visits to boarding schools No.5 and No.9 of special type and No.10 of sanatorium type of the Ministry of Education without prior notice in order to investigate the status of ensuring children's rights.

During the visits conducted in accordance with the requirements of the OPCAT and the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman, the NPG members inspected the area of boarding schools, including dormitories and classrooms. Within the frame of the visits, the issues related to ensuring children’s rights to protection, health, and development were studied, the general situation of the quality of the nutrition, medical care, and organization of the psychological aid and documentation was inspected.

The staff members of the facilities and children were interviewed in private or in groups in order to investigate the treatment standards.

The principals of the facilities were given recommendations regarding the measures to be undertaken to eliminate the deficiencies identified during the visits. Furthermore, legal awareness discussions were held with the staff of the facilities for the protection of children's rights and prevention of any cases of ill-treatment of them.

At the end of the visits, posters with information about the 24/7 Call Center of the Ombudsman were presented to the facilities.