Sabina Aliyeva, the Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan, held a meeting with Mirzatillo Tillabayev, the First Deputy Director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Murodjon Turqunov, the Director of the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

During the meeting, the Ombudsman noted that Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan enjoy close friendship and brotherly relations and have effective cooperation in various fields, including the protection of human rights and freedoms. Recalling the building of a secondary school in the liberated Fuzuli district by Uzbekistan, she expressed gratitude.

The Ombudsman provided the delegation members with detailed information about the activities carried out in the field of protecting human rights and freedoms, emphasizing the importance of cooperation with international organizations. She said that the Ombudsman Institution has close relations with international organizations, as well as with the ombudspersons and national human rights institutions of foreign countries.

The Commissioner spoke about the amendments made to the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, stating that her mandate has been expanded in areas such as the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and children’s rights, the prevention of discrimination, and other fields.

The Ombudsman also discussed the NPM activities, saying that monitoring visits are conducted to places where individuals cannot leave at their own will to investigate detention and treatment conditions.

S. Aliyeva noted that this year Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference (COP29), underlining that preparations are underway to organize the event at a high level.

She also mentioned that the Baku Forum of Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions will be held.

During the meeting, the sides discussed a number of other issues of mutual interest, including future cooperation prospects.

The Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman (FPO) proudly hosted the flag hoisting ceremony to commemorate Pakistan’s Independence Day at its headquarters in Islamabad. The event marked a moment of national pride and reflection on the sacrifices that led to the formation of Pakistan.

Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, President of FPO, delivered an inspiring address highlighting the profound sacrifices made by Pakistan’s leaders. “The achievement of Pakistan stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our forefathers. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah dedicated his entire life to the cause of Pakistan, shaping the future of our nation with his vision and commitment,” said Dr. Jah.

In his remarks, Executive Secretary FPO Almas Ali Jovinda emphasized the nation’s abundant resources and the divine blessings that Pakistan enjoys. He urged the youth of Pakistan to channel their energies towards constructive endeavors, stating, “Pakistan is richly endowed with resources, a true blessing from God. It is imperative that we encourage and empower our youth to work diligently and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our nation.”

The ceremony was attended by FPO officials, staff, and distinguished guests, all of whom joined in paying tribute to the nation’s heritage and the vision of its founding leaders. The event underscored the collective commitment to advancing Pakistan’s development and fostering a spirit of unity and progress.

• Problems of Overseas Pakistanis be resolved on top priority- Federal Ombudsman.
• Over 70,000 complaints of Overseas Pakistanis redressed during the current year.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib, Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has instructed all Departments dealing with the Overseas Pakistanis to redouble their efforts for early resolution of their problems. He has further directed the NADRA to set up its offices in Bahrain and Baghdad and asked the ASF to issue entry passes to the OPF officials performing duties at the “One Window Facilitation Desks”.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib observed that the Overseas Pakistanis are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and they are a major source of foreign exchange in the country and deserved to be facilitated in all respects. He gave these instructions on receipt of a report with regard to the Overseas Pakistanis with special reference to the problems being faced by them.

It may be pointed out that the Secretary, Wafaqi Mohtasib Office, Mr. Afzal Latif yesterday chaired a meeting of the Senior Officials of the Ministries and Government Departments dealing with the Overseas Pakistanis, which considered ways and means to reach out to the Overseas Pakistanis and improve the delivery of services to them.

During the meeting, the Grievance Commissioner for the Overseas Pakistanis gave a detailed presentation on the problems being faced by them. He said that over 70,000 complaints received so far during the current year have already been addressed.

It may also be mentioned that a full-fledged office of the Grievance Commissioner for the Overseas Pakistanis has already been working in the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s office wherein any Overseas Pakistani can lodge his complaint with regard to any of the problems or injustice being faced by him.

On July 29, 2024, the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia held a working meeting with representatives of government agencies and self-governing bodies. The theme of the meeting was the evaluation of measures aimed at preventing violence against women and domestic violence.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide information about the evaluation methodologies of the two monitoring reports to be implemented by the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia: Measures for Preventing Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, and the Action Plan for the Measures to be implemented in 2022-2024 for Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and Protecting Victims.

In addition, the purpose of the mentioned meeting was to deepen cooperation with the agencies while working on special reports, which will contribute to the formation of results-oriented approaches to the fight against women and domestic violence in Georgia.

Representatives of the government agencies and self-governing bodies responsible for the implementation of the obligations provided for by the action plan and the measures aimed at preventing violence against women and domestic violence took part in the meeting. During the discussion, representatives of the agency had the opportunity to express their opinions and feedback.

The event was supported by the Council of Europe project “Reinforcing gender equality and implementing GREVIO recommendations to combat violence against women and domestic violence in Georgia”.

On August 21, 2024, Virgílio da Silva Guterres ‘Lamukan,’ the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, and Paulo Remédios, the Deputy Minister of Justice, launched a critical training session on the Prevention of Torture for 25 prison guards. The session took place at the Ministry of Justice in Colmera, Dili.

During the opening, the Ombudsman highlighted that this training is part of a collaborative effort between the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), PDHJ, and the Ministry of Justice. He emphasized that PDHJ’s mandate, as outlined in Law No. 7/2004, specifically includes oversight of the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL), the FALINTIL-Timor-Leste Defense Force (FALINTIL-FDTL), and the Prison Guards.

“The PDHJ, MJ, and APT work together to ensure these entities are trained to prevent human rights violations, especially torture against prisoners,” said the Ombudsman. He noted that Timor-Leste values human rights and aims to ensure that those serving sentences are treated with dignity.

Guterres also praised the prison guards for their dedication, highlighting that recent annual reports have shown no complaints against them. He reaffirmed that both the constitution and international agreements explicitly prohibit torture, emphasizing Timor-Leste’s strong commitment to human rights. This commitment is internationally recognized, as evidenced by the Nobel Peace Prizes awarded to two of its citizens, Jose Ramos Horta and Bisphop Carlos Ximenes Belo—the highest honour in the field of human rights.

Deputy Minister Remédios encouraged the trainees to fully engage in the three-day training, which will cover key topics such as implementing anti-torture rules, creating safe prison environments, protecting vulnerable prisoners, and collaborating with national stakeholders to prevent torture.

The training will continue until August 23, 2024, at the Ministry of Justice’s meeting room.

The Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan and the Central Election Commission (CEC) held a round table titled “Ensuring the right of citizens to vote” in relation to the early parliamentary elections. The employees of both institutions, as well as media outlets, took part in discussions.

In his welcome speech, Mr. Mazahir Panahov, the Chairman of the Central Election Committee, underlined the importance of large-scale public awareness events organized jointly with state agencies, aimed at ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections of voters. The measures taken to further improve the election legislation and practice were outlined too. The necessary conditions for parliamentary elections, based on the legislation and in full compliance with international and high standards were created, he said.

While underlining the duties of media subjects during the election process, the Chairman briefed the comprehensive conditions established for local and international observers during the elections.

Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, the Ombudsperson, informed the participants about the planned joint public awareness events aimed at increasing the knowledge of voters to better ensure their rights and extensively improving the electoral system. She added that the calendar of future events to be held ahead of the parliamentary elections in cooperation with the CEC has already been approved and appropriate measures for their implementation have been brought to the attention of participants.

The Ombudsman stated that the conduct of the elections in accordance with the Election Code once again confirms our country’s commitment to the principles of building a legal and democratic state, ensuring human rights and freedoms, and developing national legislation.

Additionally, it was noted that, based on the positive experiences of previous years, the Ombudsman, along with the staff of her Office and regional centers, will independently observe the early parliamentary elections both in Baku and in all districts of the country, acting as observers on their own initiative.

Ms. S. Aliyeva also provided her recommendations on how to ensure electoral rights more effectively, based on the experience of the Ombudsman Institution from previous elections.

Afterwards, Mr. Ilkin Shahbazov, a member of the Commission, made a presentation on ‘Constitutional and Legislative Opportunities for the Effective Protection of Electoral Rights.’ He stated that the existing election legislation in our country and the purposeful steps taken to conduct elections at a high level create conditions for voters to freely and independently exercise their constitutional rights.

Mr. Aydın Safikhanli, Head of the Ombudsman Office, during his speech on ‘The Importance of the Observation Institution and the Role of the Ombudsman in this Process,’ underscored the significance of observation institutions in the election process. He stated that the observation institution contributes to the protection of citizens’ right to vote, addresses potential shortcomings during the election process, and creates an environment of openness and transparency. The head of the Office, spoke about the experience of the Ombudsman Institution as an observer, too.

 – Residents of Yeongmin Village in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, have faced decades of hardship due to odors from legalized pig farming.

– Through ACRC mediation, a final agreement has been reached, bringing a resolution to the enduring conflict.

 (July 3, 2024, ACRC)

Residents of Yeongmin Village, a Hansen’s disease settlement in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, have long suffered from the overwhelming odors caused by nearby pig farming operations. Thanks to the efforts of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan), their plight is now on the path to resolution.

On July 3 at 2 PM, the ACRC held an on-site mediation meeting in the second-floor conference room of the Yeonggwang County Office. The session, chaired by Chairperson Rye Chul Whan, brought together key stakeholders, including representatives of the village residents, the deputy governor of Yeonggwang-gun, the chairman of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju Maintenance Foundation, and local livestock business owners. The meeting successfully resolved a collective complaint filed by the residents, addressing the odor problem stemming from pig farms operating in the village.

Yeongmin Village was established around 1974 with the assistance of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju, providing a safe haven for Hansen’s disease patients who had been isolated by government policies and societal discrimination, or who had been discharged from the National Sorokdo Hospital.

Over time, the aging population, now averaging 80 years old, has ceased livestock farming and largely depends on government support for survival.

Although the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju has generously provided free land leases to the residents and Yeonggwang-gun has built housing for them, the situation became dire in January 2020. The Catholic Foundation approved land leases to external pig farmers (for two years, renewable up to 15 years), and Yeonggwang-gun legalized the farming facilities, exacerbating the odor issues and leading to numerous complaints.

 * Over the past two years (2022-2023), 21 complaints regarding pig farm odors were filed with Yeonggwang-gun, and the local media frequently highlighted the negative impact of these operations on village life.

In July 2023, the residents filed a collective complaint with the ACRC, requesting a solution to the odor problem caused by the pig farming operations in their village.

In response, the ACRC conducted multiple on-site investigations and consultations and gathered opinions from stakeholders to prepare a mediation plan. The resolution includes several key measures:

 First, Yeonggwang-gun will implement a rural space improvement project by 2025 to fundamentally address the livestock odor issue. Meanwhile, pig farming will be temporarily allowed until the improvement project is completed, with strict order management measures in place.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju will actively cooperate with the rural space improvement project and continue leasing the land to pig farmers under the condition that they make efforts to reduce odor until the completion of the project.

In addition, the five pig farmers* in the village have agreed to cooperate with the village improvement project and will temporarily operate while implementing enhanced practices to minimize odor, such as liquid manure storage and carcass disposal methods.

 *Pig farms in the village: Geumo Livestock, Geumo 2 Farm, Taehwa Livestock, Poya Farm, and Euni Farm

Finally, the applicants agreed to actively cooperate with the village improvement project and accept the temporary operation of the pig farms during the project’s execution.

ACRC Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan commented on the resolution, stating, “It is significant that we have resolved the long-standing conflict caused by livestock odor in the village through the concessions and cooperation of the livestock farmers, the Catholic Foundation, and Yeonggwang-gun. This agreement will significantly improve the living environment and quality of life for the Hansen’s disease patients who have endured so much amid societal prejudice and discrimination.”

He continued, “To protect the rights of Hansen’s disease patients and to improve the environment and welfare of the settlement village, it is crucial to understand the unique challenges faced by these residents. We need the cooperation and participation of the central government, local governments, and various sectors of society. I urge everyone to take a special interest in and provide support for these efforts.”

The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres, held a Meet The Press to update the media and the public on the progress of the Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ). The event focused on the PDHJ’s ongoing efforts to protect human rights and promote good governance, highlighting the crucial role of media in these efforts.

Guterres expressed his gratitude to the media for their role in covering the PDHJ’s activities. “We took this opportunity to hold the Meet The Press and thank the media for their coverage. Journalists are vital not only for reporting on the PDHJ’s work but also for their everyday reporting that helps to highlight and address human rights issues,” stated Guterres.

He emphasized that journalists are recognized as human rights defenders under UN resolutions, underscoring the significant role the media plays in upholding human rights. “The media’s role extends beyond merely covering the PDHJ’s programs. Through daily coverage, journalists reinforce the human rights perspective, ensuring that the defence of citizens’ rights is continuously supported,” Guterres added.

The Ombudsman also reviewed the PDHJ’s activities from January to July 2024, including managing complaints, monitoring detention conditions, and promoting human rights training. He highlighted that the media’s partnership is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in these processes.

“Our work would not be as effective without the media’s collaboration. Protecting human rights and promoting good governance are shared responsibilities, and the media is a crucial partner in this effort,” concluded Guterres.

The event reinforced the synergy between the PDHJ and the media in fostering a more just and informed society, demonstrating that both sectors are united in their commitment to defending human rights and ensuring good governance.

The training session for the participants of the student research paper competition on “Climate Change and Human Rights,” announced by the Ombudsman Office of Azerbaijan and the UNDP Country Office was held.

Nine teams, comprising 45 selected students from Baku State University, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and ADA University, will participate in the hackathon competition.

Zaur Valimammadli, Head of the Department for Cooperation of International Organizations and Civil Society Institutions in the Ombudsman Office, and Leyla Fathi, Program Analyst of UNDP, delivered speeches at the opening of the training session. They emphasized that considering this year, Azerbaijan is going to host COP29, various events on this topic were held, and that, it is necessary to further enhance public awareness on environmental rights.

Furthermore, Rashad Novruzov, Advisor to the Ombudsman, and Tural Ahmad, UNDP representative, also made speeches on the topic and answered the questions of the competitors.

Subsequently, Shahla Aslanova, Chief Advisor of the noted Department, and Hyebin Kwon, UN Volunteer, provided detailed presentations on the impacts of climate change on human rights and standards for academic writing.

In conclusion, the trainers answered the questions regarding the competition.

It should be noted that the winning team of the competition will make a presentation at the Baku International Forum on “Climate Change and Human Rights,” to be held on 2 October 2024.

– ACRC and Land & Housing Corporation (LH) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 9^th July… with the aim to prevent corruption and acts of infringing public interests, strengthen whistleblower protection, and facilitate reports in mutual cooperation –

(9^th July 2024. ACRC)

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) concluded an MOU with the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH, CEO Lee Han Joon) to actively cooperate in preventing acts of corruption and public interest infringement in construction sites and spreading a culture of anti-corruption and integrity.

The MOU signed on 9^th July was pushed under the consensus that the LH should be reformed as a leading institution with integrity trusted by the public through providing safe public housing without shoddy construction and corruption.

ACRC and LH agreed to mutually cooperate and provide support for preventing acts of corruption and public interest infringement in construction sites as well as reinforcing investigations into corruption and public interest reports and protection of reporters.

Other than the aforementioned, ACRC and LH reached an agreement to closely cooperate in establishing a voluntary monitoring system through facilitation of corruption and public interest reports, overhauling systems preemptively to root out corruption-causing practices, and communicating and educating for achieving a culture of anti-corruption and integrity.

In addition, according to the MOU, ACRC plans to conduct a joint integrity education targeting LH employees and related constructors nationwide in Sep. 2024, in order to eradicate illegal acts and prevent corruption and public interest infringement in construction sites for which LH has placed orders.

Furthermore, LH plans to run an intensive reporting period in October, 2024 to tackle problems such as the privilege of a former post and shoddy construction, etc. which have been pointed out as vulnerable areas, and strengthen the internal control system by reforming its own regulations.

The CEO Lee Han Joon said, “LH will strive to become an organization more trusted by citizens through the establishment of an anti-corruption system that can fundamentally prevent illicit and corrupt acts in construction sites in cooperation with the ACRC through the MOU.”

The ACRC Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan emphasized, “I believe the MOU signed by the two organizations today serves as important momentum to prevent corruption in construction sites, and the Commission will spare no efforts to join hands with LH in realizing more transparent and safe society.”