On 25 May 2022, the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, TURKPA and Ombudsman Institution of the Republic of Azerbaijan co-organized a Conference under the theme “Protection of Human Rights in TURKPA Member States” with participation of parliamentarians and ombudsmen of Turkic states. The event held within the framework of the TURKPA Commission on Legal Affairs and International Relations was hosted by the Milli Majlis and devoted to the 20th anniversary of Ombudsman Institution of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The program featured an opening session, two sessions entitled “Role of Parliaments in Protection of Human Rights” and “Significance of Improvement of Legislation in Efficient Functioning of Ombudsman Institutions”, and a closing session.

The opening ceremony was addressed by Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Zahid Oruj, TURKPA Secretary General Mr. Mehmet Süreyya Er, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mrs. Sabina Aliyeva and Chairman of the TURKPA Commission on Legal Affairs and International Relations Mr. Erol Kaya.

During the sessions of the Conference, the parliamentarians and ombudsmen of the member states, as well as Uzbekistan focused on the discussion of the protection of human rights in the context of upholding democratic values and respect of rule of law, significance of knowledge sharing in this field, gender equality, role of parliaments, and ombudsman institutions as essential national stakeholders on protection of human rights. The participants informed on the activities of their respective parliaments and institutions in this regard.

The participants of the Conference visited Alley of Honors to lay a wreath at the tomb of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Alley of Martyrs.

Prior to the Conference, on 24 May, the participants visited city of Shusha – the Cultural Capital of Azerbaijan and Cultural Capital of the Turkic World for 2023.