PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Azerbaijan [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.
The UK delivered a statement during Azerbaijan’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.
Thank you, Madam Vice President,
The United Kingdom welcomes Azerbaijan’s engagement in the UPR process and their increased protection to those affected by landmine contamination. We encourage Azerbaijan to advance post-conflict reconciliation particularly the protection of displaced persons.
We remain concerned at restrictions to freedoms of expression and assembly, as highlighted by the case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu. We urge Azerbaijan to improve human rights protections for all.
We recommend:
- Ensuring that all allegations of human rights violations against human rights defenders, civil society activists and journalists, and detained foreign nationals are investigated effectively and transparently, including pending unresolved cases requiring urgent attention.
- Removing articles 147 and 148 from the Criminal Code, which stipulates liability against journalists for slander and insult, as committed to by Azerbaijan in 2001.
- Adopting necessary legislation in the Criminal Code to criminalise all forms of domestic violence.
Thank you.
