Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League

The address of the organization where it conducts activity

3, Tagizade str., Apt 16
Baku, AZ-1025, Azerbaijan

Telephone, fax, e-mail

Telephone: (+994 12) 496 41 85 ; Fax: (+994 12) 510 42 71; mobile:(+994 50) 314 49 15
e-mail:  smamedov@rambler.ru; sahib.mammadov@gmail.com
The history of establishment of the organization and its registration

The Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League was established in July of 1997. It was registered by the Ministry of Justice on 18th of March of 2000.

The managing body of the organization

During the period between general assemblies the activity of the organization is managed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is electing from its rows the chairman of the Executive Committee. The chairman of the executive Committee is Mr. Sahib Mammadov now.

Mission of the organization and its main directions of activity

The basic mission of the Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League is to conduct legal, public, educational and advocacy activities in a way of provision of human rights and freedoms in social sphere of the country. Alongside with protection of socio – economical rights, the organization is also specialized in direction of provision of fundamental rights and freedoms. The organization is basically organizing its activity in a form of litigations, public campaigns, awareness raising and advocacy activities. The organization has cooperation relations with relevant state structures.

National Coalition and networks where the Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League has membership
 

  • The information and cooperation network of the organizations fighting against corruption
  • The Coalition of Transparency Initiative in Extracting Industry
  • The Public Committee on Penitentiary Service under the Minister of Justice
  • The Citizen Response Network on Influence on Extracting Industry

The International Coalition and networks where Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League has membership
 

  • Freedom of Information Advocacy network (FOIanet)

The foreign partner organization

  • The Helsinki Foundation on Human Rights (Poland)

 

Current programs of the Citizen’s Labor Rights Protection League

  • Enhancing transparency, facilitation of access to information resources of state, municipality and other equivalent subjects.

Concerning this activity the organization implements monitoring, enlightenment (including trainings, preparations for publication, placement of enlightening materials at mass media), improving legislation, acquisition of concealed information by court actions from governmental and municipal authorities (this creates precedent for presentation of information by the losing part of a court action).

  • Enhancing transparency, facilitation of access to information resources of state, municipality and other equivalent subjects.

Concerning this activity the organization implements monitoring, enlightenment (including trainings, preparations for publication, placement of enlightening materials at mass media), improving legislation, acquisition of concealed information by court actions from governmental and municipal authorities (this creates precedent for presentation of information by the losing part of a court action).

  • Strategic litigations

During last 5 years 300 litigations actions were commenced by League. Some of them are strategic litigations. As an example of strategic litigations could be pointed out:

  • Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League vs. Ministry of Public Social Security. For the first time in the country not responded to the information inquiry the Central Executive Power authority lost a court action and presented information required. This created a precedent and in nowadays acquisition of information by court means is practical.
  • Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League vs. Executive Power of Baku.

A successful public campaign was waged around plaint against Executive Power of Baku decision of prohibition of carrying out by League a piquet for defense of freedom of speech. National Courts deviated from ensuring plaint against city authorities. But complaint assigned to European Court of Human Rights. (This is the first complaint related with violation of right of assembly in Azerbaijan appealed to the European Court of Human Rights).
3. Land owners vs. BP, State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic and Azerbaijan State Land and Cartography Committee. The defense was conducted by Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League. After 2 years lasting court first time in the new oil history of country the Court of Appeal ensured complaint of land owners. As a result of 15 land owners complaint court decision created a precedent and could be concerned to 7200 more land owners.
Related to the carrying out the strategic court actions the organization collaborates with Foundation of Human Right of Poland and Interights Organizations allocated in London. At present League insinuates (plans) to carry out some strategic court actions.

  • Advocacy practice in ensuring right of assembly

Project implemented by organization in this direction was successful. Prepared monitoring report and recommendations were valued by international organizations. Most of the recommendations were taken into consideration while passing an act of right of assembly. Within the project the organization repulsed national (internal) security mechanism and appealed a plaint to European Court (concerning breakage of 11th, 6th, 13th and 14th articles of European Convention for Human Rights).
At present the League implements legal assistance for organizations and individual persons whose rights of assembly were infringed (including advice, court complaint, strategic court actions, enlightenment, etc.)

  • Combating corruption

The League is co-founder of functioning “Information and Cooperation Network of NGO-s acting in the field of combating corruption”. The League experts participated in preparation of Action plan for the implementation of the national strategy on increasing transparency and combating corruption (2007-2011) ratified by President of Azerbaijan Republic.
The League continues activities within the network in the direction of combating corruption.

  • Creation of Fair and Favorable work conditions and provision of employment 

This is one of the activities carried out continuously in the long-term plan of the organization. During 11 years of functioning the organization published 21 items in this context, organized many trainings, conferences, debates and prepared policy papers. There are functioning reception rooms implementing legal assistance related to security of labor and property rights in 6 Regions of the country.
Creation of secure labor condition, preparation of suggestions for amendments to the Labor Code, forming rights defense at the courts and other activities are intended in the long-term Acton Plan of the League.

  • Provision of citizen response over influences of the oil-industry

“Citizen response network over mining industry (CRN)” established by League Open Society Institute and carries out fund support activities in the territories undergone to influence of the pipelines in the framework of this activities.

  • Migrant workers and organizing of the defense of their family members

League renders legal support to worker migrants from other countries in Azerbaijan.
Develops reports connected with situation of rights of the worker migrants. It is intended to render legal support to worker migrants and their family member in the long-term action plan of the League.

  • Provision of alternative reports to international organization (to UN committees, corresponding structures of European Council) state report of the connected with Human Rights.

The Citizen’s Labor Rights Protection League is using the charter and treaty mechanisms on provision of the UN Human Rights and Freedoms. The directions of activity of the organization in this field are followings:

  • Preparation of opposite information for the UN Council on Human Rights concerning the Universal Periodic Review;
  • Preparation of alternative reports to the governmental reports for the UN treaty bodies;
  • Using individual complaint procedures addressed to the UN Committees