Azerbaijani ombudswoman meets with US ambassador to discuss human rights initiatives

Azerbaijani Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudswoman) Sabina Aliyeva has met with US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mark Libby.

During the meeting, Aliyeva provided a detailed overview of her recent activities in the protection of human rights and freedoms. Emphasising the importance of learning from positive practices in human rights, she discussed the fruitful collaboration in this area with ombudsmen and representatives of the national human rights institutions from various countries, as well as with international organisations, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

While speaking about recent changes to the Constitutional Law "On the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan", Aliyeva highlighted the expansion of her mandate in such areas as promoting equality and preventing discrimination.

She provided information on visits to jails as part of the National Preventive Mechanism. Moreover, she discussed the ways in which individuals can contact the Ombudswoman, as well as her appeals to the president of the country for clemency based on requests from convicted individuals and their families. 

The ombudswoman also stated that during nearly thirty-year-occupation of Azerbaijani lands, Armenia grossly violated international law, caused environmental damage, and committed acts of ecocide. The landmines planted on Azerbaijani territory during the occupation have created big obstacles to the safe return of former internally displaced people to their homeland and to large-scale reconstruction efforts.

She added that approximately 4,000 fellow citizens went missing during the first Karabakh war. Aliyeva noted that, through various initiatives undertaken by Azerbaijan, the identities of some missing individuals have been established, and their remains have been buried; however, the fate of many others remains unknown.

The initiatives led by the Ombudswoman are underway in the territories liberated from occupation to investigate facts. The reports, statements and appeals are being prepared for submission to international organisations, ombudsmen of foreign countries, and national human rights institutions. The meeting also covered a range of other topics of mutual interest.

By Naila Huseynova