Baku, May 21 (AZERTAC). Azerbaijani Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Elmira Suleymanova has met a delegation led by UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Chaloka Beyani.

Saying that she often visits the towns where IDPs have settled, Elmira Suleymanova noted there were huge changes in the protecting and ensuring the rights of refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan.

Elmira Suleymanova said the tent camps also were abolished and new settlements were built in Azerbaijan.

The Ombudsman also highlighted the vast measures taken by the government for improving the living conditions of over 1 million Azerbaijanis who became IDPs and refugees as result of the Armenian aggression against the country, saying the problem of return of these people to their homes still remain unsolved.

Elmira Suleymanova also noted that the Ombudsman Office had created bilateral cooperation ties with the structural departments of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and implemented joint projects.

The Ombudsman also gave detailed information about the activity plan and program approved by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in 2006 and 2011 regarding the protection of human rights.

UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Chaloka Beyani praised the Ombudsman’s views on the repatriation and return of IDPs to their homes, the creation of equal rights and conditions for them with regard to other categories of the population as important.

He also noted the importance of the study of such persons’ needs, especially female IDPs and refugees and their participation in making decisions and paying attention to gender issues.

Chaloka Beyani hailed the activity of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman in human rights field.