The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan hosted the International Symposium of Ombudsmen on “Strengthening the Rule of Law: The Role of Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions,” in Baku. The event was dedicated to the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty” and the Human Rights Day in Azerbaijan, which is marked on June 18.

The event had brought together heads and representatives of ombuds institutions and NHRIs from around 15 countries, high-level state officials, parliamentarians, representatives of international organizations and CSOs, as well as experienced human rights experts. During this event, Farid Ahmadov, Minister of Justice, delivered a greeting message from His Excellency, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, to the symposium’ participants.

In her opening speech, the Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, conveyed her deep gratitude to the country’s President, for his greeting message.

The Ombudsman expressed optimism that this meeting, dedicated to such an important issue, would foster fruitful discussions on human rights protection and evaluation of potential future developments.

1. Aliyeva highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation in human rights due to globalization, armed conflicts, and the crucial role of ombudsmen and NHRIs in ensuring rule of law.

The Ombudsman reported that Azerbaijan, under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, has successfully liberated its occupied territories and restored its internationally recognized sovereignty. The humanitarian consequences of Armenia’s occupation and ethnic cleansing continue to impact Azerbaijan, with landmine issues posing threats to safety, preventing former IDPs’ return, hindering reconstruction, and contributing to environmental imbalance.

1. Aliyeva also emphasized that the improvement of legislation in line with modern challenges, the effective organization of supervision over the implementation of normative legal acts, and the cooperation between ombudsmen and NHRIs with judicial bodies make a significant contribution to ensuring the rule of law. She spoke about the good practices in this area.

Farhad Abdullayev, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan, stressed that safeguarding fundamental rights and the rule of law is key to the stable development of state and society. He also underscored the need for strong inter-institutional cooperation.

He highlighted the cooperation between the Court and the Ombudsman Institution, noting that mutual relations and experience-sharing play a vital role in protecting human rights.

In his speech, Ali Ahmadov, First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, stated that Azerbaijan considers human rights protection a top priority, which has enabled ombuds and human rights institutions to operate on these core values.

Ali Ahmadov noted that organizing this significant event within the framework of the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty” is both well-founded and closely aligned with its purpose.

The conference participants received video messages from Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chair of GANHRI, and Ms. Luise Holck, Chair of ENNHRI.

The Symposium featured panel sessions on the role of ombudsmen and NHRIs in ensuring constitutional rights, promoting equal rights for all—best practices and challenges—and enhancing international cooperation in protecting refugees’ rights. The sessions included presentations and in-depth discussions, along with extensive dialogue on current challenges and future cooperation prospects.

At the conclusion of the event, the Declaration of the International Symposium of Ombudsmen was officially presented and adopted.