The Statement of the Ombudsman Regarding Recent Adverse Incidents Involving Children

Recent incidents involving aggressive behavior by children toward their peers and other individuals, as well as the commission of offenses, have caused serious concern. Assessing children’s psychological well-being and ensuring oversight of their behavior, including their use of digital platforms, are of particular importance for safeguarding the health and safety of children and society as a whole.

In the appeal of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman) concerning the safety of children in the digital environment, information based on analytical assessment was provided for the risks posed by online games and interactive platforms that have become widespread among children recently, particularly the ‘Roblox’ platform. The relevant state authorities were called upon to strengthen oversight mechanisms over online platforms, to carry out a legal assessment of the identified risks, and to take the necessary measures in the field of preventive action in order to ensure children’s digital safety.

The role of parents in addressing these problems is undeniable. Parents bear responsibility for the upbringing, health, and psychological, physical, and moral development of their children. Recent incidents highlight the importance of parents paying closer attention to their children, ensuring open and trusting communication with them, and strengthening safety in all environments where children are present.

When disseminating information relating to children, it is essential that media representatives comply with the requirements of the legislation, prioritize the best interests of the child, and approach such matters from the perspective of protecting children’s rights to ensure that the public is properly informed.

In an open appeal addressed by the Ombudsman to media outlets and journalists concerning violations of children’s rights in the media, their duties and responsibilities in this field were outlined. They were urged, in the course of their professional activities, to prioritize the best interests of the child and to demonstrate a sensitive approach when disseminating information relating to children.

The manner in which students were interviewed and the incident at the ‘İdrak’ Lyceum on 6 February 2026 was reported by the media is inappropriate.

Once again, I urge media representatives to comply with the requirements of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Media, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Rights of the Child, the Code of Ethics for Azerbaijani Journalists, and other relevant legal acts, and call on them to demonstrate a responsible approach in this area.

It should be noted that, in such cases, we contact the relevant authorities to ensure that necessary measures are taken.

In order to protect children’s rights and ensure their safety in the digital environment, I once again call on the relevant state authorities to strengthen oversight in this area, on parents to act with greater responsibility, and on media representatives, when preparing information relating to children, to comply with the requirements of the legislation and to prioritize the best interests of the child.

To safeguard children’s rights and ensure their safety in the digital environment, I once again urge the relevant state authorities to enhance monitoring in this field, encourage parents to act more responsibly, and call on media representatives to follow legal requirements and prioritize children’s best interests when reporting on issues concerning them.