Ombuds Office signs MoU with Azerbaijan counterpart

Baku, Oct. 5 (BNA): A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Bahrain’s Ombuds Office and Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commission.

The MoU was signed by Ghada Hameed Habib, the Secretary-General, and Sabina Aliyeva.

The MoU aims to enhance professional cooperation through exchange of expertise, capacity building, workshops, training programmes, and addressing complaints from each country’s nationals according to the remit of each institution. It also seeks to strengthen joint coordination in international and regional forums that include ombuds institutions worldwide.

Habib noted that the Ombuds Office is expanding its presence regionally and internationally, earning a respected position among ombuds institutions, particularly within organisations such as the International Ombuds Institute and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Ombuds Association (OICOA), where both Bahrain and Azerbaijan are board members.

She expressed confidence in the direct benefits of participating in such important international events, which highlight Bahrain’s advanced approach to human rights, including the establishment of independent specialised institutions that complement the work of other executive bodies.

This took place during the International Baku Forum of Ombuds held in Azerbaijan on October 2, under the theme "Climate Change and Human Rights: The Role of Ombuds and National Human Rights Institutions".

A delegation from Bahrain's Ombuds Office, led by Ombudswoman Habib, attended the forum, which was initiated by Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner and attended by over 60 guests from around 30 countries, including high-level officials, civil society representatives, and international organisations.