Chairman of the Milli Majlis Human Rights Committee Zahid Oruj wished the MPs success during the 2023 spring session as he opened the first committee meeting in the session on 25 January.

Proceeding to introduce the agenda of the meeting to them, he said it dealt with the committee’s work in the 2022 autumn session, the action plan for the current session and two Bills.

Beginning with the last-session progress report, Mr Oruj said that the committee had held 12 meetings to consider 18 issues including 6 draft laws during the past session. He briefly described the draft laws, highlighting the extensive public hearings and discussions on the Political Parties Bill held with the support of Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova.

Also during the last session, the head and members of the committee had participated in various events, held meetings and discussed diverse topics, including in the media. And, of course, the committee members had had surgeries, Mr Oruj told the gathering.

The correspondence received during the autumn session of 2022 amounted to 590 appeals; all of them were considered and appropriate steps were taken. The committee leadership received, online and in person, 258 citizens.

Referring to the work plan for the current session then, Mr. Oruj spoke about the forthcoming consideration of draft laws and other documents the committee would receive and on which opinions and proposals would have to be drafted as necessary. In addition, there are plans to discuss relevant human rights issues; meetings, discussions and hearings are planned.

Mr Oruj shared his views on holding hearings, conferences and discussions about the crimes committed by the occupying Armenian forces during the Patriotic War, the damage inflicted on the Azerbaijani State, the violation of the rights of Azerbaijani citizens - including environmental rights, the deportation of Western Azerbaijanis and defence of their rights. Such matters should also be raised before international bodies, in his opinion.

Next, two draft laws containing amendments to effective laws were tabled. First, there was a set of amendments to the laws ‘On Information, Informatisation and Protection of Information’, ‘On the Freedom of Reference’, ‘On the Publishing Business’, ‘On Obtaining Natural Environmental Information’, ‘On Telecommunication’, ‘On Obtaining Information’, ‘On Theatre and Theatrical Activities’ and ‘On Culture’. Secondly, and as momentously, Mr Oruj presented draft amendments to the laws ‘On Countering Religious Extremism’, ‘On Licences and Permits’, ‘On Martial Law’, ‘On the Rules of Ethical Conduct for Municipality Members’, ‘On Assessing Environmental Impacts’, ‘On Employment’, ‘On the Chamber of Accounts’, ‘On Safeguarding Children against Harmful Information’, ‘On Psychological Aid’, ‘On the Rational Use of Energy Resources and the Energy Security’ and ‘On Tourism’.

Those amendments, all of the syncing nature, are connected with application of the law No 471-VIQ ‘On Media’ (dated 30 December 2021), according to Mr Oruj.

Discussions followed. There were commentaries by the deputy chairman of the committee Tahir Karimli and committee members Hikmat Mammadov, Bahrouz Maharramov, Razi Nurullayev, Naghif Hamzayev, Jala Ahmadova and Elshad Mirbashiroglu. Remarks were also made by the head of the State-building, Administrative and Military Legislation Department of the Milli Majlis Staff Haji Mirhashim Seyid.

The MPs underscored the efficient operations of the committee last session, commented on the work scope for the current session as well as the declaration of 2023 The Heydar Aliyev Year, and made remarks concerning on relevant aspects of human rights protection.

Ultimately, the committee noted the 2022 autumn-session progress report, approved the work scope for the 2023 spring session and recommended that both draft laws should be tabled at a meeting of the Milli Majlis in plenary.

The Press and Public Relations Department 

The Milli Majlis