The protection of children’s rights requires more attention during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan focuses on protection of the rights
vulnerable groups of population as well as the children’s rights during the global
outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

During the ongoing outbreak of the infection in the country the Ombudsman has issued many calls addressed to the relevant state bodies,public and private sector
stressing the necessity of paying further attention to protection of vulnerable
groups of population from the virus and meeting their urgent needs during the
special quarantine regime declared on 24 March 2020. The course of current
corona virus pandemic shows that children are not equally exposed to the
negative impact of the globalized infectious diseases, but in many cases they are
more vulnerable.

The Ombudsman keeps the current situation in the state-run childcare
institutions in focus. The staff of the Ombudsman Institution monitored the state
of ensuring children’s rights and treatment to them in these institutions. They
also examined the detention conditions, rendering of effective health care
services and the state of access to them.

The children, their parents and legal representatives have access to theOmbudsman via 24/7 hotline (012-916 and 050-370-98-96).

Also during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic some staff members of the Ombudsman Institution voluntarily donated blood for the children suffering from
blood diseases – thalassemia, leukemia to support to low-income families.

The Ombudsman also actively participates in social activities for combating the
infection in country. As such, the Ombudsman Institution prepared a short video
message with participation of the kids of the staff members of the Institution to
support the awareness raising campaign of #StayAtHome