Human Rights House Azerbaijan had visitors on 14 October. They were Bard Svendsen, Assitant Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Lars Ragnar Aalerud Hansen, First Secretary, Embassy of Norway and Ina Mossin, intern at the Embassy of Norway.
HRH Azerbaijan hosted a meeting between the visitors and its partners. Ragsana Mammadova, HRH Azerbaijan Co-ordinating Manager welcomed the guests, briefed them on the activities of the House and presented them the activity report of the House. Then the partners shared their views on the importance of the House, the status of the human rights and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.
Shahla Ismayilova, Chairwoman of Women’s Women’s Association for Rational Development (WARD) briefed the guests on the library project and its importance, as well as lobbying the House among the local and international organizations.
Highlighting the importance of the House, Emin Huseynov, Chairman of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) expressed his views on extending the House considering the need of wider community to benefit from the services of the House. He also stressed the importance of co-operation among the partner organizations, in particular, in preparing joint alternative reports on human rights related issues in Azerbaijan for different committees of the UN. He also highlighted the South Caucasus Network project and its impact on regional co-operation.
Avaz Hasanov, Chairman of the Society for Humanitarian Research also highlighted the importance of establishing South Caucasus Network. He also briefed the guests on the future planned activities of the House, including movie evenings.
Teyyub Mirgasimov, Chairman of the Organisation for Regional Co-operation and Community Development emphasized the importance of support to the regions and organizing visits as such to the regions to meet human rights defenders.
Rashid Hajili, Chairman of Media Rights Centre, Indigam Intigam Mehdiyev, President, Legal Education Society, Annagi Hajibeyli, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Lawyers Association, Matanat Muslimgizi, Azerbaijan Lawyers Association expressed their concerns on the lack of freedom of expression, lack of support to NGOs by international organizations.
