A Meeting was held with the ICRC Representatives

The meeting was held at the Ombudsman Office with Zoya Khasia, the Adviser on Prison Systems of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Office, and Elem Khairullin, a staff member of the ICRC Delegation in Azerbaijan.

During the meeting the members of the National Preventive Mechanism Group (NPG) of the Ombudsman - Vugar Heydarov, Javidan Gorchiyev, Ali Heybatov, and Elmin Jafarov, Head of the Department for Prevention of Torture informed the guests in detail about the activities of the Ombudsman as a National Preventive Mechanism, discussed proposals and recommendations, perspectives for cooperation. The various questions were answered.

The meeting was focused on the NPG and its new composition, as well as the activities, carried out. The challenges of the pandemic and visits to institutions that individuals cannot leave on their own will, as well as the effective cooperation between the Ombudsman and the ICRC were discussed.

In their turn, the ICRC Representatives gave an overview of the monitoring carried out in the pre-trial detention facilities and penitentiaries, as well as in other institutions where individuals cannot leave on their own will within the mandate of the organization.

At the end of the discussions of the issues of mutual interest, the parties exchanged views on future cooperation.