A/HRC/11/20
Page 10
47.
The United Kingdom noted that CAT was concerned at the substantial gap between the
legislative framework and its practical implementation and that CRC was concerned that
legislative measures are not provided with adequate mechanisms and financial support. The
United Kingdom recommended that Azerbaijan reconsider its decision and permit broadcasting
by non-Azeri outlets on FM frequencies. It referred to reports that some sectors of the Ministry
of Interior and the judiciary appear to exert pressure on the media, including with the use of
defamation trials. It emphasised that the use of criminal libel law to unjustly imprison or
financially ruin journalists severely impacts on media freedom in this context it recommended
that all journalists remaining in detention be released. It recommended that Azerbaijan continue
to engage fully with civil society groups in the follow-up and implementation of this review.
48.
The Czech Republic recommended to issue and implement a standing invitation to all
Special Procedures. It recommended Azerbaijan to address persisting problems of prison
conditions, such as overcrowding and insufficient health care and to establish an independent
mechanism to overview conditions in detention facilities, with particular focus on conditions of
children and their protection against violence and abuse. Referring to recommendations made by
CAT, the Czech Republic recommended Azerbaijan to provide law enforcement and judicial
officials with specific education/sensitivity training towards the protection of children, women
and persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity. The Czech Republic
recommended Azerbaijan to take concrete measures to ensure necessary resources to increase
effectiveness of the protection of children rights, including effective monitoring of conditions in
institutional care and establishing of a complaint mechanism for children, to develop and adjust
new mechanisms for the protection of children based on serious research and wide piloting, and
to create mechanisms to deliver foster care services. The delegation finally recommended
bringing rules on broadcasting in compliance with relevant provisions of ICCPR, releasing
persons held in prisons for their political views and adopt safeguards against arbitrary or
politically motivated detention and trials including through ensuring full independence and
transparency of judiciary.
49.
Turkey, aware of the fact that Azerbaijan found itself faced with a large scale
displacement problem as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, praised Azerbaijan for the
effective measures taken to alleviate the suffering of IDPs. It appreciated the establishment of the
Ombudsman Institution and encouraged Azerbaijan to continue to make the best use of this
important mechanism in addressing the remaining shortcomings in the judiciary and the
penitentiary systems as well as in the fight against corruption. It trusts that the new Law on
Freedom of Assembly will constitute a step in the right direction for raising further the
democratic standards.
50.
Latvia noted with appreciation the recent voluntary pledge of Azerbaijan to extend a
standing invitation to all United Nations special procedures. It further noted the positive
cooperation with a number of these special procedures and that Azerbaijan has invited and
received several Special Rapporteurs in the past few years. In the light of this positive
cooperation, Latvia recommended that Azerbaijan fulfil its voluntary pledge and extend a
standing invitation to all special procedures of the Human Rights Council.
51.
Jordan welcomed the adoption of the constitutional acts on the Commissioner for Human
Rights (Ombudsman) and commended the strong political will as reflected in, inter alia, the
2006 national plan of action for human rights protection. Jordan recommended that Azerbaijan
continue its constructive efforts in human rights education, including its active cooperation with
the key international organizations towards this end.
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