INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
1. Name of the organization: Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League
2. The address of the organization where it conducts activity:
11, N.Narimanov str., Apt 16
Baku, AZ-1006, Azerbaijan
Tel: (99 412) 5104271
Mob: (99 450) 314 49 15
e-mail:sahib.mammadov@gmail.com ; labourrights97@gmail.com
http://labourrights-az.org/
3. 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 18 th of March of 2000.
4. 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.
5. 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 International Coalition and networks where Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection
League has membership:
Freedom of Information Advocacy network (FOIAnet)
Basic activities
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
Previous donors
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Open Society Institute – Assistance Foundation (Azerbajan)
Open Society Institute- Human Rights and Governance Grants Program
Open Society Institute -Central Eurasia Project
Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President
of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
USA Public Affairs Section (USPAS)
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Azerbaijan Republic
Commission on Combating Corruption of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The Ministry of Labor and social protection of people
OXFAM
Embassy of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in
Azerbaijan Republic
International Alert
Eurasia Foundation
Counterpart International
ICNL
OSCE Office in Baku
Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF)