HRWF: Azerbaijan Seriously Violated the Right to Freedom of Assembly

Human Rights Network of the EU countries, united in a structure called Human Rights Without Frontlines issued a statement on the situation in Azerbaijan. In a document released on October 3 this structure, it is noted that the right to freedom of assembly is a fundamental right in a democratic society. Creation of a non-governmental organization - one of the main expressions of this law. However, in Azerbaijan to the thousands of NGOs over the years can not get state registration without any justification. But even registered NGOs face serious violations of their rights.

Summarizing the information to study the country's legislation, HRWF made recommendations to the Azerbaijani authorities in the matter of registration of NGOs. In particular, the law should be made to be amended to reflect the essence of Article 58 of the Constitution. That is, the need to develop legislation defining the legal regulation of the right to association. In the current legislation there are also procedures that limit the freedom of association.

The statement is followed by specific recommendations of 16 items that propose:

To develop the Law on NGOs and foundations with broad public participation and maximum simplify and accelerate the procedure of registration of NGOs in one week;

Make changes in the law on which the termination of activity of NGOs is possible only by a court decision. In this case, in the legislation there should be removed "artificial reasons" with no legal values and the basis for the termination of the activities of NGOs;

To eliminate legislation limiting the rights of NGOs to monitor the elections, including presidential and parliamentary, and conducting exit polls;

To simplify the system of registration of grants received by NGOs and cancel the registration requirements of grants makers;

NGOs should be excluded from the list of organizations subject to statutory audit;

To simplify the procedure for registration of representative offices and branches of foreign NGOs and to ensure their equal rights with NGOs in Azerbaijan. 

We should also note the requirement for NGOs annual financial statements and other recommendations.

* HRWF has existed since 1989 and is based in Brussels. This global network consists of hundreds of NGOs from all over Europe. -02D-