European Commission against Racism and Intolerance published reports on Azerbaijan and Armenia

The document emphasizes that since the adoption of the 2016 ECRI report on Azerbaijan, progress has been made and good practices have been developed in a number of fields.

According to the report, ECRI appreciates the fact that the population of Azerbaijan, including the numerous internally displaced persons, have suffered from long-lasting conflicts and confrontations.

The Commission also emphasizes that since 2020, the topics of human rights in inclusive education have been included in the curriculum, and practical changes have been made in legislation to prevent racist speech and hatred online.

It is noted that through the efforts of the authorities to regularize the legal status of migrants in 2021, the number of persons with illegal status was reduced by 10%, access to public services for migrants was facilitated, issuance of work and residence permits to migrants was simplified and accelerated.

The report mentions that migrant workers are guaranteed the same social protection rights as Azerbaijani citizens, and refugees are entitled to access the labor market.

The document also stresses that multiculturalism and tolerance are historically integral components of the Azerbaijani society.

Meanwhile, the new ECRI report on Armenia notes that hate speech incidents, including calls for violence, occur occasionally in the political and public spheres in the country.

In particular, the words “Azeri” and “Turk” are mentioned as examples of hate speech used in Armenia as tools against political opponents in order to exacerbate internal divisions and hinder any peace negotiations. At the same time, it is stressed that no Azerbaijani community exists in Armenia, and the number of Turks living or visiting the country is unknown.

In the report, ECRI refers to its statement on preventing and combating ultra-nationalistic and racist hate-speech and violence in relation to confrontations and unresolved conflicts in Europe as well as the relevant recommendations by the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights.

Among the 2 interim and 15 general recommendations ECRI gives to Armenia, of particular importance are the recommendations for the authorities to engage in awareness-raising activities on the importance of diversity and tolerance in society, to encourage public figures, including politicians, religious, economic and community leaders, to react promptly to any expression of hate speech, for elected bodies and political parties to adopt appropriate codes of conduct that prohibit the use of hate speech, and recommendations to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity and religion in education through reforms.