National Action Program aims to reach targets defined by development strategy-Fuad Alasgarov

Several days ago, Azerbaijani president approved National Action Program to increase efficiency of protection of human rights and freedoms. What can you say about it?

First I would like to note that The National Action Program is conceptual and scaled program and should be viewed in the context of obligations defined by "Azerbaijan 2020: vision to future" development strategy. This document shows that protection of human rights is among priorities of the Azerbaijani president’s policy.

Similarly, the National Action Program is a part of continuous measures taken in the sphere of human rights protection.

Yet on 22 February 1998, national leader Heydar Aliyev signed Order on "Measures to provide human and citizen rights and freedoms". The Order defined ways to establish socio-political stability and form the system of human rights protection.

As a logical continuation of this Order, Azerbaijan’s first ‘State program on protection of human rights’ was approved upon the Decree of the president on 18 June 1998. As a result of measures in accordance with the State Program, the Commissioner Institution on Human Rights and Scientific and Research Institute on Human Rights were established and publishing literature on human rights, covering this issue broadly in media outlets, realizing events to enlighten people about human rights and improving activity of state structures in ensuring human rights was realized.

The National Action Plan on protecting human rights, approved in 28 December 2006 upon the Decree the President of Azerbaijan Republic served to enter a new level in providing human rights, form a new cooperation strategy in the regional and universal scale and consolidate partnership relations between the state and civil society.

And the new Program approved by the Azerbaijani president on 27 December this year is directed to provide continuation of measures aimed to increase efficiency of protection of human rights and freedoms, develop legal culture and improve normative legal base and system of protection of rights.

In essence, the two documents are connected to each other. The Order of the Azerbaijani president on "Preparation of Development Concept ‘Azerbaijan 2020: vision to future’" noted that Azerbaijan has entered a new stage of development. The main target of this stage is to form multi-branched, efficient and innovative economy, provide leading development trend in social sphere and bringing welfare of people to the worthy level befitting international standards, as well as to gain new achievements in science, culture and all spheres of social life.

During his interview to ITAR-TASS agency, President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev views full transformation of Azerbaijan as a strategic goal. Noting that this transformation will be multi-field and cover all spheres, the president emphasized importance of conducting political and economical reforms simultaneously in order to provide continuous development in the county. Mr. President underlined that it’s not possible to form a developed country without democratization, transparency and supremacy of law. Level of the social mentality and existing historical experience necessitates the political system to meet these criteria. The National Action Plan adopted on 27 December 2011 is directed to these goals.

What issues does the National Action Plan cover?

The National Action Plan includes realization of complex measures by developing concept of activity in the sphere of human rights protection, system of their implementation, coordination, monitoring and assessment and defined targets.

Certain measures were considered to further develop the human rights protection system, improve legislative base and ensure rights of people of different categories more efficiently.

Thus, the Program includes taking human rights as the main criterion while adopting bills, continuing process of Azerbaijan’s involvement in international agreements, adoption of new legislative acts, strengthening combat against corruption in the country, increasing transparency and developing electronic services for people and close cooperation with civil society.

Moreover, the Program plans to continue educational, scientific and analytic events on human rights in the future and realize joint cooperation programs with international organizations, including human rights structures of the UN, High Commissioner for Refugees, UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank, as well as the Council of Europe, European Union, OSCE and other regional organizations.

Cooperation programs realized with different international organizations, legislative reforms in different spheres, Guidebook of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on preparation of the National Action Program and legal precedent of the European Court of Human Rights were considered during the preparation of the Program. This document also gives certain instructions to state structure to continuously implement international obligation in providing human rights.

In conclusion, I would like to stress once again that the new National Action Plan on human rights is directed to the goals of "Azerbaijan 2020: vision to future" concept. I would like to finish with the words of President Ilham Aliyev: We see our country as a modern and democratic country having supremacy of law, very powerful social policy, developed economy and strong position in the region.