Azerbaijan and Human Rights: fight is continuing

At the session of the UN Council on Human Rights in Geneva on 27-31 May Azerbaijan was criticized due to violations of the freedom of assembly and association. According to the Election Monitoring and Democratic Studies Center (EMDS) Anar Mammadov, international human rights organizations have expressed concern about the violation of political freedoms in Azerbaijan.

The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Maina Kiyasy also touched on situation in Azerbaijan. She noted that as a result of recent amendments to the legislation of Azerbaijan, the opportunities for funding NGOs of the country from abroad have also been restricted.

Without providing freedom of assembly, limiting of opportunities for political parties, NGOs and trade unions , it is not possible to speak about functioning of democratic institutions.

On June 1, expert consultation on the subject will begin in Geneva: “Ensuring the freedom of assembly in the elections”, which will affected the situation in a number of countries, including Azerbaijan.

Representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, ODIHR, the diplomatic mission to the UN will participate in the discussions. International experts, civil society activists and human rights defenders will discuss many aspects of human rights in various panels till June 14.

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