On 18 June the President of Azerbaijan ordered the establishment of a “Government
programme of human rights’ protection”.
The following were included in the programme plans, consisting of 42 points:
- To ratify the first and second optional protocols to the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights;
- To establish the institution of human rights commissioner;
- To put into practice measures to improve conditions in pre-trial detention centres and
prison colonies, before December 1998;
- To continue with the building of modern correctional institutions;
- To organize seminars on human rights for the mass media and ngos;
- To reform the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes, Citizens’ and Citizens’
Procedure Codes;
- To complete bills on “The Procuracy”, “The Bar” and “The Notary”.
Source: “Khalg gazeti”, Baku, 19 June
1998
According to Aidin Gasimov, Deputy Minister of Justice and Director of the Prison
Service, wide ranging reforms of the Azeri prison system has been under way for the past
1,5 – 2 years. In 1998 the prison service was provided with twice as much funds as last
year, though this still amounts to only 50% of the sum requested.
The following reforms are said to have been undertaken:
A new tuberculosis colony for 1,100 prisoners was built, which has been equipped with
modern medical equipment, including a TB X-ray installation donated by Turkey, which can
test up to 500 people per day;
The total number of prisoners was reduced by 3,500 - 4,000 people since last year.
(From a peak of 18,000 last year to 14,500 in August 98). This was the result of an
amnesty declared in May, which involved around 8,000 prisoners;
The population in pre-trial detention centres was reduced by 50%. Currently three
pre-trial detention centres house around 2,000 prisoners;
NGOs and the media are said to have more access to prisons.
On 14 September Council of Europe experts will be visiting Azerbaijan, to investigate
the country’s compliance with international human rights standards. Azerbaijan currently
has a guest status with the Council of Europe.
Source: Discussions with the Director of
the Prison Service, Azerbaijan
Government
initiates programme of human rights