The Chief of Azerbaijan Ombudsman Office participated in the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw

The Chief of Azerbaijan Ombudsman Office, Mr. Aydin Safikhanli spoke about human rights reforms in Azerbaijan, national action programs and strategies, increased social wellbeing and the activity of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman in the field of human rights protection and promotion at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting held on 16-27 September in Warsaw, Poland. He mentioned the National Action Plan on Eliminating and Combating Domestic Violence in Azerbaijan for 2019-2023, the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2019-2024, Azerbaijan National Strategy for Children for 2019-2029.

During the session dedicated to the problems of refugees and IDPs, A. Safikhanli told about the measures taken by the Azerbaijani Government for protection of the rights of refugees and IDP people as a result of the Armenian-Azerbaijani armed conflict over “Nagorno-Karabakh”. It was highlighted that as a consequence of this conflict, the one fifth of Azerbaijani territories have been occupied, Azerbaijanis massively were displaced from their homes and became IDPs, their rights have been violated and properties been destructed.

&He also drew attention of the interstate organizations to the facts that refugees have the right to return to their homes in comply with UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Armenia must fulfill the requirements of international treaties and other legal documents, including four UNSC Resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh, which unconditionally demand to follow the ceasefire and withdraw of Armenian troops from the occupied territories. However, up to now the Armenian side ignores and breaches the norms of international law.