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Fuad Alasgarov: Giving the authority of the commissioner for media issues to Ombudsman is expedient

10 December 2010 11:50 (UTC +04:00)

Addressing the conference in Baku on the theme â€œEfficient mechanism and tools in the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rightsâ€ devoted to the 60th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, Fuad Alasgarov said freedom of getting information falls under the system of human rights.
â€œIn this respect giving the authority of the commissioner for media issues to the human rights commissioner is expedient. Azerbaijani human rights commissioner has established close relations with the civil society and mass media and has experience in this field,â€ he said.

Fuad Alasgarov also said that earlier the European Convention on Human Rights had been the regional document, but later it covered the entire continent.
â€œIt arose from the extension of the borders of the Council of Europe. Wide application of the convention also resulted in the development of the science of law,â€ he said.

Official of the Presidential Administration noted that after Azerbaijan was admitted to the Council of Europe and ratified the Convention the case law of the European Court was applied by the courts of the country.
â€œUnder the executive order issued in 2006 by President Ilham Aliyev for modernizing the judicial system, it was recommended to study the case law of the European Court and use it in practice.

Investigation of recent yearsâ€™ decisions shows that application of this law has been taken into account by local courts. Appropriate legislation and institutional reforms have been established in defense sphere at courts of human rights and freedom in Azerbaijan. Consequently, wide authorities were given to courts and independence of judges increasedâ€.

Alasgarov reminded that law on â€œAdministrative executionâ€ would come into force from January of the next year and noted special importance of administrative courtâ€™s functioning. Department chief said that Azerbaijan realized necessary measures in the direction of total implementation of the European Convention: â€œMoreover, defensive methods out of the court play an important role in protection of human rightsâ€. Alasgarov gave the Ombudsmanâ€™s Office as an example for it. Speaking about amendments and annexes to be made to law on â€œCommissioner for human rights of Azerbaijani Republicâ€, he added that these amendments and annexes served increase of authority of the commissioner. Reminding that two years ago Azerbaijan confirmed facultative protocol of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Alasgarov said that the document would come into force after one year: â€œAccording to commitment, national preventive group must be created in Azerbaijan within a year and currently, this mechanism is carried out by Ombudsman. The first part of the project is reflection of activity directions implemented by the commissioner in legislationâ€.