Baku hosts conference on strengthening role of Azerbaijani ombudsperson as national preventive mechanism

The conference brought together representatives of the Commissioner's Office, state justice and law enforcement authorities, international organizations and civil society to discuss ways to strengthen the Commissioner's capacity to assume its NPM role.

Also attended the event were representatives of the UN Sub-Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the Association for the Prevention of Torture, as well as an expert from the Human Rights Implementation Centre at Bristol University.

Addressing the event, member of the Milli Majlis Ali Huseynov said protection of human rights and freedoms was among kep priorities for every state.

He recalled that Azerbaijan's parliament had approved the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture, and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Huseynov noted following the ratification of the Optional Protocol by Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree assigning the responsibility for Azerbaijan's NPM to the Commissioner for Human Rights.

Head of the OSCE Office in Baku Ali Bilge Cankorel said “we believe that an independent and strong National Preventive Mechanism can serve as an effective domestic tool to ensure the prevention of torture and ill-treatment in places of detention. Azerbaijan is to be applauded for ratifying the Optional Protocol and designating the Commissioner for Human Rights as the National Preventive Mechanism.”

Azerbaijan's Ombudsperson Elmira Suleymanova briefed the participants on what had been done in the country to protect human rights and freedoms. She said Azerbaijan had joined numerous relevant international conventions, describing the fact as “what created conditions for strengthening the country's international prestige”.

Suleymanova also stressed the importance of the conference, expressing confidence it would contribute to strengthening the protection of human rights and freedoms in the country. The conference continued with sessions.


/AzerTAc/