On the 3-rd of August, the representatives of the Human Rights House Baku were invited to the Ministry of Justice for the first time after the state registration in May 2007. The purpose of the meeting was to get acquainted with the activity of the Human Rights House Baku and to invite the organization for cooperation. (04-AUG-07)

Written by Shahla Ismailova/HRH Baku on the basis of meeting discussions

Meeting participants
The initiator of the meeting – Ministry of Justice, was represented by Faig Gurbanov, the head of Department on Human Rights and Public Relations, and Subhi Kazimov, deputy of Department on Legal Persons and Citizenship within the Chief Department on Registration and Notary.

The Human Rights House Baku was represented by Shahla Ismailova (coordinator and attorney) and Eldaniz Ahmedov (holder of legal address of HRH Baku).

Meeting discussions
The meeting started with the congratulations on the occasion of registration and start of the activity of the Human Rights House Baku. The Ministry representative Faig Gurbanov, expressed his wish to see the Human Rights House Baku a strong organization, contributing to the development of human rights in Azerbaijan.

The representatives of the Ministry of Justice gave comprehensive information on the activity of the Ministry of Justice in relations to the human rights. It was noted that the number of registered NGO-s is obviously rising, thus if in 1991 only 120 organizations were registered, in 2006 – 548 organizations passed state registration. In the first half of 2007 this figure reached 229 organizations. At the same time, the number of registered press outlets is rising as well – 425 press outlets were registered in 2006 and 223 in the first half of 2007. Totally, for the date of the meeting, 3511 press outlets were registered in Azerbaijan.

Faig Gurbanov also emphasized the cooperation between the Ministry and NGO-s in the form of regular meetings, Public Commission on Penitentiary System, Court Legal Council, attendance of the events organized by NGO-s, invitation of NGO-s to monitor test examinations of judges, etc. He also stressed the high level of cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan Republic and the international institutions, such as the Council of Europe, Chief Prosecutors’ Association, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, European Court on Human Rights, Amnesty International. The Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan Republic, Fikret Mamedov, attends annual meetings of the European Ministers of Justice. At the same time he is a vice-president of Executive Committee of the Chief Prosecutors’ Association.

In their own turn, the representatives of the Human Rights House Baku, informed the Ministry representatives about the history and activity of Human Rights House Foundation. There was given broad information about the directions of activity of HRHF, branches of HRHF in other countries, the level of respect of the HRHF in the international community.

The Ministry representatives were also briefed about the plans and perspectives of HRHF activity in Azerbaijan, the activities conducted so far. The model of HRHF on sharing common facilities was emphasized to be a unique model of joint activity and cooperation for Azerbaijani human rights organizations, that would undoubtedly bring more positive results on human rights situation in general.

At the end of the meeting, the openness for cooperation was emphasized by both sides and the meeting was concluded on the tone of constructive approach for further partnership.