On November 20, on the 10th day of the COP29 conference, a side event was held at the Qatar pavilion located at the Baku Olympic Stadium, organized by the Qatar National Human Rights Committee and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of the State of Qatar, with the support of the Ombudsman Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Social Research Center and the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights.
The event was attended by Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of the State of Qatar, Mrs. Maryam bint Abdullah Al Atiyya, Head of the Qatar National Human Rights Committee, Mrs. Sabina Aliyeva, Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Zahid Oruj, Member of Parliament, Head of the Social Research Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ahmad Shahidov, human rights defender, Head of the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, media representatives and representatives of civil society.
Opening the event with an introductory speech, the Head of the Qatar National Human Rights Committee Mrs. Maryam bint Abdullah Al Atiyya, drew attention to the issue of climate change, provided information about the projects implemented by the State of Qatar in this area, and emphasized the need for joint activities of national human rights institutions.
Then, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mrs. Sabina Aliyeva, touched upon the importance of the COP29 conference hosted by Azerbaijan, noting that the issue of climate change faced by the whole world is discussed in Baku and important decisions are made. Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva provided information about the damage caused to flora and fauna during the 30-year occupation period faced by Azerbaijan, noted that the ecocide crimes committed by armenians in Karabakh were committed against all humanity, and stated that Azerbaijan has come up with global initiatives related to climate change all over the world.
The head of the Social Research Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan, MP Zahid Oruj, in his speech, noted that a biased approach was displayed against Azerbaijan before and after the COP29 conference, especially unfounded remarks from a number of Western countries seriously damaged climate change activities, and some European countries did not fulfill their responsibilities. MP Zahid Oruj stated that Azerbaijan successfully hosted the COP29 conference and that important decisions regarding the future of the planet are made in Baku.
Speaking later, the head of the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, human rights defender Dr. Ahmad Shahidov drew attention to the need for international cooperation on climate change, and noted that mutual cooperation between countries is important, and in this regard, the priorities of cooperation between the national human rights institutions of Azerbaijan and Qatar both at the local level and on international platforms.
Then, panel speeches were heard and reports were made on the topic of climate change and human rights. The speakers called Azerbaijan’s hosting of the COP29 conference successful and noted that important decisions are made in Baku.
