The Office of the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan held a video conference on “Promotion of human rights and multicultural values in the period of
pandemic”

Upon the initiative of the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, a video conference on “Promotion of human rights and multicultural values in the period of pandemic” was held with participation of the representatives of the civil society, local communities and ethnic minorities in Guba region of the country. Bahruz Afandiyev, the Head of Guba Regional Center of the Ombudsperson, moderated the event.

During the conference the Head of International Relations Sector of the Ombudsman Office, Zaur Valimammadli has greeted the participants on behalf of the Ombudsperson and given broad information about the activities of the Ombudsperson in the field of ensuring the equality and combating discrimination in the country. He said that the Ombudsperson attaches great importance to cooperation with civil society, NGOs and local communities in her activities.

It was noted that the Constitution of the Republic Azerbaijan sets the basic principles for the country’s national policies to ensure the full equality of all its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or race or other grounds. The historical, economic and cultural
specificities of the population are based on the principles of tolerance and respect for the culture, religious beliefs, traditions of other ethnic groups and national minorities.

He said that the multiculturalism is the among state policy priorities, which establishes basic principles for peace and prosperity in the society and strong solidarity, especially in the period of pandemic, plays important role in preserving the unity and ensuring
prosperity.

He spoke about the close cooperation of the Ombudsperson with the Council of Europe and mentioned the training seminar organized jointly by the Council of Europe (CoE), the European Union (EU) and the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the topic “Anti-discrimination in practice for the field officers of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan” on last January, in Guba, Azerbaijan.

In the end of the video conference, the representatives of the Ombudsman Office answered the questions of the participants.