UN Human Rights in Azerbaijan

Profile

OHCHR provides technical assistance and advisory expertise in strengthening national capacities to promote and protect human rights. It promotes the participation of national actors with the UN human rights mechanisms and integrating a human rights-based approach in the UNCT’s programmes. OHCHR operates as part of the OHCHR Regional Presence in the South Caucasus supporting the work of the OHCHR Senior Human Rights Adviser for the South Caucasus, based in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Achievements

• Since 2017, OHCHR has supported the delivery of legal assistance services to persons belonging to vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, low-income population and victims of gender-based violence. Lawyers selected by OHCHR provide legal services in both Baku and the regions of the country including by meeting with individuals in vulnerable situations residing in remote areas or having limited mobility. This programme facilitates access to justice for vulnerable groups of the society by using available national and international mechanisms to protect their rights and freedoms.
• OHCHR successfully mobilized civil society organizations and promoted their participation in the activities of the UN human rights mechanisms. As a result, a number of alternative reports, namely on freedom of expression, judicial independence, freedom of association and assembly were prepared in a timely manner by civil society and submitted to the Human Rights Council, treaty bodies including the UN Human Rights Committee and other UN human rights mechanisms.
• In recent years, OHCHR, in close cooperation with the Ombudsperson, has continued building the capacity of civil society and enhancing its role in the promotion and protection of human rights by engaging with the UN human rights mechanisms. Targeted training programmes were rolled out for CSOs representatives and members of the lawyers’ community in the country. This has built their capacity to monitor and report on the human rights situation in view of informing the UN human rights machinery.

Partners and Donors

Partners: UN agencies, International and regional organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, Ombudsperson’s Office, Bar Association, civil society.

Donors: European Union.

UN Human Rights Focus Areas

Last reviewed: November 2020