Azerbaijan Promises to Consider Recommendations on Human Rights Issues

Baku / 18.05.18 / Turan: The working group of the UN Council on Human Rights on May 17 approved the recommendations made during the discussion of the national reports of a number of countries, including Russia and Azerbaijan.

115 member states made recommendations to Russia, 11 more sent their questions in advance. In total, thus, this country received 317 recommendations, to which Moscow promised to respond not later than September of this year, by the beginning of the 39th session of the Human Rights Council.

135 member states addressed their questions to Azerbaijan. Baku received 259 recommendations. Among them are issues related to ensuring freedom of speech, the rights of sexual minorities, the blocking of opposition Internet sites, and the conditions for holding elections and a referendum.

The report prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights summarizes the position of a number of NGOs that condemned the mass arrests of the LGBTI community and their ill-treatment.

The parties also point out that Azerbaijan violates the provisions of the Convention against Torture and reports on "politically motivated arrests". At the same time, the report notes Baku's efforts to combat early marriages and marriages between close relatives. At the same time, according to human rights activists, the problem in this country is not only children's, but religious marriages, which do not allow women to file lawsuits during divorces.

The official delegation of Azerbaijan at the meeting of the Working Group of the UN Council on Human Rights was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov. He presented a national report on the observance of human rights in the country. In it, in particular, it is said about the improvement of the legislative base taking into account the recommendations of the UN.

According to the report, there are more than 5,000 media outlets in Azerbaijan, 78% of the population use the Internet, and the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of assembly. It is reported on the "high level" of religious tolerance: as of October 2017, 783 religious communities were registered in the country. Of these, 755 are Muslim, 17 are Christian, 8 are Jewish, 2 are Baha'is, and 1 is the religious community of Krishna consciousness.

Speaking on Thursday, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation Khalaf Khalafov promised that the Azerbaijani authorities will prepare answers to the recommendations to the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council in September. -02D-