The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, participated at the XV Edition of the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC), attended by information commissioners from various countries, at the invitation of Besnik Dervishi, Information and Data Protection Commissioner of the Republic of Albania.

Sabina Aliyeva, making a presentation at the first panel session of the conference held under the theme “Empowering Individuals through Access to Information: Ensuring Transparency and Inclusivity in an Interconnected World,” provided information about the Ombudsman’s activities in the field of protecting and ensuring the right of access to information, public awareness-raising activities in this field, pointing out that safeguarding the rights of vulnerable population groups receives special attention.

Underscoring that this year, Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP29), the Ombudsman also emphasized that in this context, an international symposium, in which ombudspersons and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) from other countries will discuss issues of access to information, will be held.

Within the framework of the visit, the Ombudsman had meetings with several state officials of Albania, including the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Ermonela Valikaj Felaj, and Information and Data Protection Commissioner Besnik Dervishi.

During those meetings, S. Aliyeva gave detailed information to the participants about the activities of the Ombudsman Office, measures taken to protect the right to information, and expanding the Ombudsman’s mandate by virtue of the latest amendments made to the relevant Constitutional Law. Also, outlining the human rights reforms implemented at the national level, S. Aliyeva added that the Ombudsman has established close cooperation with the Parliament in improving the legislation and actively participates in the gatherings of the parliamentary comittees. The Ombudsman stressed that women in our country actively participate in decision-making processes and occupy management positions at different levels.

In addition, information was given on monitoring visits conducted to places which persons cannot leave at their own will, including education, health, and penitentiary institutions under the national preventive mechanism jurisdiction of the Ombudsman, as well as relevant recommendations made.

Ombudsman S. Aliyeva spoke about serious obstacles created by the landmines buried by Armenia in our territories during the occupation last about thirty years, the large-scale building and re-construction works carried out in those areas, the return of our former IDPs to their native lands, and endanger the lives and health of civilians there. Furthermore, it was noted that the Ombudsman carried out fact-finding missions (FFM) to those liberated areas during the war and post-war period, as a result of which related reports, appeals, and statements have been submitted to the corresponding international organizations, foreign NHRIs, and ombudspersons. The hard copies of the FFM reports were presented to the officials of that  country.

The Ombudsman also said that good experiences gained within bilateral cooperation will contribute to effectively protecting and ensuring human rights and freedoms.

It should be noted that during the visit, in order to develop bilateral cooperation between two countries in the field of human rights, as well as safeguarding the right to information, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, and the Information and Data Protection Commissioner of the Republic of Albania, Besnik Dervishi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding.