The Ombudsperson offices of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Montenegro met in Budva to exchange practices and experiences related to anti-discrimination.

During the this study visit, participants engaged in interactive sessions where they exchanged views on a range of important topics. These included the role of Ombudsman institutions in protecting human rights, combating gender-based violence and hate speech, applying international mechanisms, ensuring equal access for persons with disabilities, data collection and reporting, cooperation with the public and media, as well as proactive approaches to vulnerable groups. The discussions also focused on key equality initiatives such as preventing discrimination, promoting gender equality, addressing violence against women and domestic violence, protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, and ensuring equality under the respective national level framework.

As part of the program, the delegation from Azerbaijan met with Montenegro’s Ministry of Human and Minority Rights in Podgorica, where they exchanged about the activities in the areas of protection of vulnerable groups’ rights, gender equality, and on the dialogue with civil society organizations.

This peer learning process improved understanding of different methods for effective engagement with vulnerable groups, mechanisms that uphold equality and non-discrimination in line with international standards, and also strengthened cooperation among the participating institutions.

This event was organised within the framework of the project on “Promoting Equality in Azerbaijan”, that is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.