In the 1970th session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva in Virtual Format, the fourth periodic report of the Azerbaijani government for the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was submitted, the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.
Azerbaijan at the session was represented by the government delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs by Halaf Halafov. The delegation included representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor General’s Office, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Education and Social Protection of the population, the State Migration Service, the State Committee on Family, Women and Children, Minecology and Natural Resources.
In his speech, Halaf Halafov noted that Azerbaijan is a participant in the main international documents in the field of human rights and promotion, and therefore attaches great importance to cooperation with the UN profile contractual bodies in this area.
In his speech, X. Halafov spoke about measures taken and initiated by the Government of Azerbaijan in connection with the Pandemic of COVID-19. Deputy Minister presented a detailed report on the existing legal database and steps taken in the field of sustainable development to ensure economic, social and cultural rights reflected in the fourth periodic report for 2013-2018.
He noted that the fourth periodic report was the first report submitted by Azerbaijan to the United Nations Agreement on Human Rights after the 44-day Patriotic War.
Halafov stressed that after eliminating the Armenian occupation as a result of the Patriotic War of the Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani lands, which lasted for almost 30 years and was a basic interference for the economic, social and cultural development of the region, new realities emerged to increase the welfare of people and expanding cooperation. According to him, these realities have created an opportunity for a safe and worthy return to their homes of almost a million citizens who have become forced migrants.
Deputy Minister noted that this return is an important contribution to the restoration and protection of violated rights of refugees and forced immigrants.
After the speech of the head of the Azerbaijani delegation, a constructive interactive dialogue was held in four sections dedicated to articles 1-15 of the International Covenant.
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which includes representatives of 18 countries, will present their recommendations on periodic reporting and interactive dialogue to October 15.