OSCE Office in Baku launches project on human rights

BAKU, 8 June 2004 - Rapid reaction to human rights violations and investigation of known cases in preliminary detention facilities in Azerbaijan will be the focus of a project jointly launched by the OSCE Office in Baku and the Ombudsman Institution.

"We hope this project will help decrease the number of human rights violations and law infringements at preliminary detention facilities," said Robin Seaword, Acting Head of the OSCE Office. "It will also help promote the notion of rule of law among the law enforcement agencies and contribute to the improvement of Azerbaijan's human rights record".

A special Rapid Reaction Team (RRT) and a Call Centre with a dedicated 24-hour telephone line will be established in order to promptly react to human rights violations in preliminary detention places.

Elmira Suleymanova, the Azerbaijani Commissioner on Human Rights, emphasized the importance of credible and objective information in dealing with complaints. "This project will help us better understand the way detainees are treated," she said.

"By making the process of detention more transparent and, exposing cases of human rights abuses, the project will contribute to improving the publics opinion of the police," added Elmira Suleymanova.

Established within the Ombudsman Institution, the RRT will focus on the permanent monitoring of the preliminary detention facilities and prompt response, within several hours, to each complaint on human rights violation.

It will further follow-up all confirmed cases and report to the Ombudsman Institution. A final report, consisting of project findings and specific recommendations, will be prepared and presented to the law-enforcement agencies for further action.

The OSCE Office and the Ombudsman Institution will also conduct training courses for several groups - law enforcement officials, police officers working in detention facilities, police and prosecution investigators and judges in order to raise awareness on the rights of detainees and suspect.

The project will run until December 2004.