The Ombudsman participated in the forum “Social Processes in the media”

The Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, participated in the forum entitled “Social Processes in the Media.”

The Commissioner, at the event, spoke on the media and human rights, saying that the media plays an important role in the increasing public legal education, operative conveyance of the information about ongoing processes to the wider audience, and constructing public opinion.   

Within the recent years, the rapid transition into the digital technologies and other innovations in this field established a qualitatively new media environment; however, it also created serious risks, such as disinformation, hate speech, and cyberviolence, the Ombudsman noted. For this reason, the significance of regulation of media activities either within legal or ethical frameworks and its aligning with the principles of respect and observance of human rights was also emphasized.   

The Ombudsperson pointed out that she continues her effective cooperation with the international and local media in the investigation into the publicized problems, incoming information requests by media subjects, and eliminating the human rights violations that occurred due to the incorrect publication of information in the media.      

The Ombudsman stressed that her cooperation with media outlets has had positive results, that her reports regarding the findings of the fact-finding missions conducted to investigate the international crimes committed by Armenia during the First and Second Karabakh Wars and the aftermath, as well as the relevant reports, were published, and her public calls on the international community were broadcast through various media channels.  

Sabina Aliyeva said that the protection of human rights is always kept in mind, highlighting that the necessary actions have been taken to ensure the right to information of media subjects and journalists within the supervisory mandate of the Ombudsman over the Law on Access to Information and to investigate their information requests within the specified period by law. 

The Commissioner expressed her confidence that the organization of thematic training on human rights for media subjects and enhancing joint events for the purpose of increasing media literacy will have significant input into the effectiveness of activities in this field.