The National plan of actions in the sphere of human rights in Azerbaijan caused conflicting estimations

The officials and human rights activists of Azerbaijan disagreed in their attitude towards the National plan of actions in the sphere of increase of effectiveness in protection of human rights and freedoms signed by President Ilham Aliev on the New Year’s eve.

This document consisting of 6 sections and 75 points was sanctioned by the President on December, 27. According to the preamble, it stipulates “further development of the system of protection of human rights and freedoms, improvement of the legislative basis, particular steps for more efficient protection of the rights of different groups of the population”.

Ombudsman of Azerbaijan Elmira Suleimaniva approves of the document.

In the opinion of Faud Aleskerov, Head of Department of interaction with law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan, one of the main features of the program adopted is including the process of Azerbaijan’s joining international agreements in the sphere of human rights into it.

Rashid Gajiji, Director of the Institute of Media Law, is skeptical about the National plan of actions in the sphere of human rights. “The document they called a program looks more like a declaratory and propagandistic step than an actual plan of actions”, Gajiji said talking to the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

“The document will have some positive results but one should not expect any basic changes from it. The legislation as it is guarantees enough of human rights and freedoms, the problem is their application. For instance, the Constitution and other laws guarantee freedom of assembly but the authorities do not carry it out and no “programs of actions” will solve the question if there is no political will for that”, Gajiji said.

Rasul Jafarov, Coordinator of Human Rights Club, also considers adoption of the National plan of actions in the sphere of human rights a “propagandistic step”.

“The authorities simulate activities aimed at protection of human rights at the background of international criticism of the state of democracy in Azerbaijan. On the eve of Eurovision-2012 Song Contest which will be held in Baku in May, the authorities tend to form an opinion among the Word community that the Government of Azerbaijan takes care of human rights”, Jafarov said.