Sabina Aliyeva, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, participated in the event on “Role of NHRIs in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Space” held within the GANHRI Annual Meeting in Geneva.
Speaking at the event, attended by the ombudspersons, heads and representatives of the member NHRIs of other countries, the Ombudsman provided information about measures taken to accelerate the digitalization process in Azerbaijan.
Sabina Aliyeva emphasized the priority accorded by the Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan to the protection of human rights in the digitalized era, noting that several significant recommendations were proposed that are included in the 2025 Annual Report to further effective protection of human rights in the digital era.
As part of the annual meeting, a side event titled “Protection of Child Rights in the Digital Age: Practical Approaches of the NHRI of Azerbaijan” was organized at the initiative of Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva.
At the event, which was attended by NHRIs of Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Philippines, Thailand, Italy, Georgia, Pakistan, Slovakia, the Maldives, and other countries, as well as diplomatic missions based in Geneva, the Ombudsman, in her opening remarks, emphasized that the protection of children’s rights is one of the priority areas of her activities and noted that, in recent years, particular attention has been paid to issues related to children’s safety in the digital environment.
The Ombudsman noted that, within the framework of her monitoring activities, the situation regarding the protection of children’s rights in the country is assessed, existing challenges, including those related to the digital environment, are examined, and relevant recommendations are submitted to the competent authorities.
She noted that, in cooperation with state institutions and civil society organizations in Azerbaijan, a number of awareness-raising activities have been organized for children on the safe use of the internet and the risks present in the digital environment.
The Ombudsman also noted that there is active cooperation in the field of children’s rights with international organizations and NHRIs of other countries, and that regular exchanges of experience are carried out within the framework of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children.
Subsequently, during her speech, the Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina, international expert Jasminka Džumhur, stressed the relevance of the topic discussed at the initiative of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, the existing international practices in this field, and the achievements made in the protection of children’s rights in her country.
Following this, the Secretary-General of the ENNHRI, Debbie Kohner, and the Ombudsman of Slovakia, Robert Dobrovodský, also delivered remarks, talking about the NHRI’s role and the practical approaches applied in the protection of children’s rights in the digital environment.
During the event, Nuriye Mammadova, Deputy Head of the Department for Cooperation with International Organizations and Civil Society Institutions at the Ombudsman Office, made a presentation titled “Azerbaijan’s Experience and Practical Approaches in Protecting Child Rights in the Digital Space,” providing information on the positive practices achieved by the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan in this field.
During the event, the Ombudsman Office also presented an awareness-raising video focused on the protection of children in the digital environment. In addition, a broad exchange of views took place on the topic, and participants’ questions were answered accordingly.
