December 10 is the International Human Rights Day. On this occasion, the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety, in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Baku and Copenhagen-based NGO International Media Support, organized “Meet Human Rights Defenders” Reception and Fair in the Park Inn Hotel. The event was attended by British ambassador to Azerbaijan, representatives of OSCE Baku Office and EU delegation to Azerbaijan and well-known human rights defenders.
This event aimed to create solidarity, synergies between international (donor) community, media and other civil society stakeholders with the human rights defenders working in Azerbaijan. At the fair, the country’s human rights organizations received an opportunity to promote their work and meet with prospective donors and allies.
IRFS chairman Emin Huseynov emphasized the important role of such events in establishing and strengthening relations. The guest speakers also stressed how conducive uniting the efforts could be for better protection of human rights and freedoms.
The event also provided an opportunity for the human rights groups operating in Azerbaijan to promote their work. Each organization was provided with a booth to display their public communication materials as well as publications related to human rights. During the two-hour fair, attendees had opportunity to see various educational materials on human rights.
Background: Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.