UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mr. Michel Forst, who has arrived in Baku on an assessment mission, has met with civil society representatives.
The rapporteur listened to assessments and recommendations on the situation in the field of protecting human rights and civil liberties.
The two-hour meeting was attended by Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre (EMDS) executive director Bashir Suleymanli, Women’s Association for Rational Development chairwoman Shahla Ismayil, Turan Information Agency director Mehman Aliyev, Chairman of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives Akif Gurbanov, IRFS deputy chair Gunay Ismayilova, Coordinator of “Azerbaijan without Political Prisoners” Public Alliance Ogtay Gulaliyev and EMDS representative Samir Kazimli, who spoke about the real facts related to the current human rights situation in the country.
Mr. Forst’s visit began on September 14 and will end with a final press conference on September 22. The visit takes place at the invitation of the Azerbaijani government.
During the visit, the special rapporteur will meet with officials, court employees, human rights defenders, civil society representatives and diplomats.
Forst will present his report on the results of the visit at the Human Rights Council in March 2017.