Foreign

Home page

Foreign

Report on Azerbaijan presented during 43rd session of UN Committee against Torture

11 November 2009 12:14 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The third periodic report of Azerbaijan Republic on the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was considered on November 9-10 within the framework of the 43rd session UN Committee against Torture in Geneva, Foreign Ministryâ€™s press service told APA. In accordance with the proper order of Azerbaijani President, the delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov participated in the presentation and discussion of the report.

Khalaf Khalafov gave detailed information about the legal basis established to ensure human rights and freedoms, efforts aiming to protect human rights and freedoms and strengthen their promotion, underlined the importance of the amendments made to Azerbaijanâ€™s Constitution as a result of the referendum held on March 18, 2009, for the development of human rights and freedoms. It was also noted that those amendments aimed to strengthen fair trial and independence of court.

Head of the delegation said after the second periodic report on the Convention was presented to the Committee, Azerbaijani government took into consideration the Committeeâ€™s recommendations, noted the improvement and implementation of the countryâ€™s legislation, reforms carried out in the judicial and penitentiary system.

The head of the delegation spoke about the measures taken for the implementation of the Convention by Azerbaijani government with the international and regional organizations, including the Council of Europe and OSCE.

Khalaf Khalafov informed about difficulties and problems Azerbaijan faces in implementation of the Convention. He informed the Committee about the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and expelling Azerbaijani citizens form the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and ethnic cleansing in those territories.

Deputy foreign minister also informed the Committee members about thousands of missing Azerbaijani citizens, hostages keeping in captivity in Armenia, tortures and other inhuman and insulted behavior against them, about torturing of 552 people to death.

Then head and members of the delegation answered the questions and comments by the Committee members on the report and made detailed comments on the measures, action and systematic efforts by Azerbaijan Republic.

The Committee members highly appreciated high-level representation of the Government of Azerbaijan in report hearing, review on Azerbaijanâ€™s periodic reports in six UN treaty agencies, including Universal Periodic Survey, ratification of facultative protocols of the Convention and joining the human rights documents, cooperation with Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee, judiciary and penitentiary system reforms.