Follow-up report to the Concluding Observations of the Committee against Torture on Azerbaijan’s 5th periodic report
The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in partnership with the International Lawyers Network (ILN), has submitted a joint follow-up report to the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) on Azerbaijan’s implementation of the Committee’s follow-up issues.
The submission addresses the Concluding Observations on Azerbaijan’s Fourth Periodic Review, which were adopted during the Committee’s 79th session.
The report focuses on the issues the Committee identified for follow-up, namely:
- access to and independence of lawyers,
- the adoption of a zero-tolerance approach to torture,
- the protection of human rights defenders and journalists, and
- the investigation and prosecution of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in connection with hostilities in the region concerned.
The report concludes that, rather than improving, the situation in these areas has further deteriorated. In the period following the Committee’s review, Azerbaijan has witnessed new arrests of journalists, NGO leaders, human rights defenders, and activists; the adoption of increasingly restrictive NGO and media legislation; and the continued use of torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities. Effective investigations remain absent, while serious obstacles persist regarding access to lawyers of one’s choosing and to effective legal aid.
The full report (English) is available here.