Azerbaijan: coalition on public supervision is open for human rights NGOs

The coalition of NGOs for public supervision, set up under the "National Preventive Mechanism", which was founded by six public associations of Azerbaijan, is open for new NGOs, engaged in human rights activities. This was stated by Elchin Bekhbudov, coordinator of the coalition and head of the Azerbaijani Committee Against Torture.

Let us remind you that on August 3 activists of the civil society of Azerbaijan announced creation of a coalition aimed to control the process of torture prevention in prisons and temporary detention facilities.

The coalition includes the Azerbaijani Committee Against Torture, Organization of Democratic Institutes and Human Rights, Centre of Rehabilitation and Protection of Torture Victims, Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety, Centre of Equal Opportunities and Society of Legal Enlightenment.

The office of the local Ombudsperson has already set up a group of 17 persons. "However, not a single representative of the civil society was included," said Mr Bekhbudov and added that the coalition of NGOs was set up with the aim to implement public supervision over implementation of the "National Preventive Mechanism".