Azerbaijan attends international workshop on human rights in Kazakhstan

Baku, June 27 (AzerTAc). Counsellor of the Ombudsman Office of Azerbaijan Sabina Gahramanova participated in an expert workshop on national human rights institutions and gender equality in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Sabina Gahramova touched upon suggestions of Azerbaijani ombudsman on protection of women rights and mechanisms on popularization of gender equality. The event co-organized by OSCE Centre in Astana and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) brought together ombudsmen and experts representing human rights institutions from Middle Asia, South Caucasus and Eastern Europe countries. June Zeitlin, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender Issues, in her keynote address said: “The international norms on women`s human rights are well-established. The main challenge now is implementation. National human rights institutions can play an important role in promoting public understanding of women`s rights and in protecting the exercise of these rights.” At the event participants discussed the OSCE/ODIHR draft Handbook on the Role of National Human Rights Institutions in Protecting and Promoting Women`s Rights and Gender Equality. The handbook will be finalized and published in late 2012. Jeannette Kloetzer, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, said: “National human rights institutions are key mechanisms for protecting and promoting human rights, including women`s rights, and gender equality principles. With this workshop, we seek to contribute to strengthening the capacity of human rights institutions to advance gender equality policy and legislation.”