Participants of OSCE Ministerial Council Report on Human Rights Issues

In parallel with the 19th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Dublin, there is a conference of representatives of civil society to promote the improvement of the OSCE human dimension.

As reported by Turan’s Special Correspondent from Dublin, participants discussed issues of freedom of expression, information, assembly, association, the state of the fight against racism, xenophobia, torture, inhuman treatment, reforming mechanisms of the human dimension of the OSCE, and protecting human rights defenders.

The Conference of Civil Society will present a paper on December 6 concerning these areas, and recommendations for improvement of the situation at the opening meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council.

Rashid Hajili, director of Media Rights Institute told the civil society conference that the document reflected the human rights problems in Azerbaijan. The paper pointed to the ineffectiveness of the investigation into the murder of the journalist Rafiq Tagi, impunity of crimes against journalists Khadija Ismayilova and Idrak Abbasov, and pressure on the media and activists for freedom of expression. The arrest of the editor of the newspaper Khural Avaz Zeynalli, the prosecution of the photojournalist Mehman Huseynov and human rights activist Oktay Gyulalyev, the arrest of journalists and others on social networking sites for political reasons, pressure on the newspaper Azadlig, are additional examples of the problems.

In addition, they noted that citizens were punished of citizens for attempting to exercise their right to freedom of assembly and penalties were becoming increasingly harsh. Recommendations will be sent to national governments and the OSCE institutions.

Representatives at the civil society conference will hold meetings with the U.S. Secretary of State, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, and Ministers of other countries. -06D -