At the initiative of the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan, the International Baku Ombudsmen Summit on the theme “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks, and Responsibilities” was held in Baku on June 18-19, 2026. The event was dedicated to observe  the Human Rights Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan on June 18 every year.

The summit brought together ombudspersons from nearly 30 countries, representatives of NHRIs, international organizations, civil society organizations, and heads of state entities, as well as prominent experts in the fields of artificial intelligence and human rights.

At the event, Farid Ahmadov, the Minister of Justice, read out the official message of greetings from  President Ilham Aliyev to the participants.

While delivering opening remarks, the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan expressed her deepest gratitude to President for his message to the participants.

The Ombudsperson emphasized that the national strategic documents and state programs actively promote the implementation of AI technologies within a framework of ethical, safe, transparent, and human rights-based principles.

The Ombudsperson stressed the need for extensive application of AI in various sectors, including education, healthcare, social protection, labor relations, and the information ecosystem. She highlighted the crucial importance of developing these technologies in strict adherence to the principles of legality, accountability, equality, and respect for human dignity. In addition, she pointed out that NHRIs play a significant role in protecting human rights during the period of rapid digital transformation.