On 14 February 2018, the Council of Europe organized a conference in Baku to launch a new Project “Support to Justice Sector Reform Initiatives in Azerbaijan” funded by the United States of America Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Ambassador Mr. Zoltan HERNYES, Head of Council of Europe Office in Azerbaijan, Mr. Mikhail LOBOV, Head of Human Rights Policy and Co-operation Department of the Council of Europe, Mr. Elchin KHALAFOV, Acting Rector of the Academy of Justice of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan Republic and Mr. William C. SOLLEY, Deputy Head of the Political Section, U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan addressed the audience at the opening session.

It was stressed that the main aim of the new Project is to support justice reforms and improve human rights implementation in Azerbaijan. The specific objectives of the Project are to assist Azerbaijan in developing and implementing national action plans related to protection of human rights, to further adjust criminal law in line with European and international human rights standards and to support and train legal professionals and institutions in improving their capacity.

The launching ceremony was followed by discussions on recent developments and challenges in the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as ensuring application of European human rights standards at the national level through a better training of legal professionals, in particular by using the methodology and tools of the Council of Europe HELP program.

The conference brought together representatives of state authorities of Azerbaijan, notably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Parliament, Presidential Administration, Ombudsman Office, Judicial Legal Council, Constitutional Court, Prosecutor General’s Office, Bar Association, judges, prosecutors, lawyers and non-governmental organisations working in the area of human rights.