As he continued a two-week visit to countries
of Central Asia, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan
stopped in Baku, Azerbaijan, on his way to Turkmenistan on Thursday.
In Baku Mr. Ramchanran met Azeri Minister
of Justice Fikret Mammedov to discuss the importance of the rule of law
and the role of judges in the protection of human rights. Mr. Mammedov
briefed the Deputy High Commissioner on various areas of activities and
publications intended to develop awareness of international human rights
law among judges, lawyers, and prosecutors.
The two also discussed the publication in the Azeri language of the United Nations manual on the independence of judges and lawyers. Mr. Ramcharan suggested the wide dissemination in Azeri of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.
The Minister of Justice and the Deputy High Commissioner agreed that it would be important to intensify cooperation in the areas of the rule of law, independence of judges, and the role of defence lawyers and prosecutors in the protection of human rights.
Mr. Ramcharan and Minister Mammedov discussed the future implementation of human rights activities already underway as a part of continuing human rights project including cooperation between the United Nations and the Government of Azerbaijan on the preparation of human rights materials for police, for judges, law enforcement officials, and for law schools.
In a visit to the Office of the Ombudsman, Elmira Suleymanova, the Deputy High Commissioner expressed the readiness of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to maintain close cooperation with the Office of the Ombudsman. In particular, the OHCHR would provide a set of its publications and manuals on human rights education.
While in Baku Mr. Ramcharan also met with Marco Borsotti, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, and with members of the United Nations country team.