The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, held a meeting with the Chairperson of the Qatar National Human Rights Committee, Ms. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah.

At the meeting, the Ombudsman provided broad information about her mandate, and activities in the field of protecting and promoting human rights and freedoms.

Highlighting the importance of international cooperation, the Ombudsman spoke about close collaboration with international organizations, as well as foreign ombudspersons and NHRIs of other countries, and concluded memoranda of understanding, adding that such bilateral cooperation will be further strengthened.

S.Aliyeva, outlining the amendments to the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman, pointed out the expansion of the Ombudsman’s mandate regarding the protection of PWDs and children’s rights, ensuring equality and preventing discrimination, and protection of the right to information and other fields.

Providing information about the NPM activities, the Ombudsman also brought to the attention of the Chairperson the preventive monitoring visits conducted to places which persons cannot leave at their own will without prior notification in order to investigate detention conditions and treatment, and follow up on the implementation of the previously given recommendations.

The Ombudsman underlined that, up to date, there is no any information about the fate of about 4000 of our citizens reported missing during the First Karabakh War, while talking about the occupation and terror policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan.

The landmine problem existing in Azerbaijan, which had been buried by Armenia in our territories during the period of occupation, and which endangers the lives and health of our citizens, hinders the safe return of the former IDPs to their native lands, and the construction and re-building process were also a topic for discussion.

Sabina Aliyeva shared her views about the possible perspectives for the future cooperation within COP-29, the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, which will be hosted by our country this year. 

Ms. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, the Chairperson, thanked the Ombudsman for the warm reception, and, in her turn, gave information about her own mandate, the directions for activity of the Committee, and expressed her interest in future collaboration.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the issues of mutual interest and prospects of collaboration.