On the 18-th of June, there was released the Presidential Decree about the establishment of Human Rights Day in Azerbaijan. However, the human rights activists do not trust the sincerity of this intention. Many of them believe that the establishment of this day does not guarantee the respect for human rights, neither does it ensure the fundamental freedoms. (19-JUN-07)
Written by Shahla Ismailova /HRH Baku on the basis of information from Turan News Agency
The director of the Institute of Peace and Democracy, Leyla Yunus (right) thinks that “the establishment of Human Rights Day in Azerbaijan and the adoption of a national program for human rights protection is only imitation. Human Rights Day is marked in the world on December 10 and it was not necessary for Azerbaijan to make its “own” day. The more holidays in the country in the sphere of human rights, the less freedom there actually is. Human rights are brutally violated in Azerbaijan, including freedom of speech, right to free and fair court trial and freedom of assembly, Yunus said.
Human rights activist Rena Sadaddinova wished this day not exist on paper. According to her, recently the situation in this sphere has worsened; there are seven convicted journalists in prison, more than one hundred political prisoners, and human rights are constantly violated.
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