BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. An awareness session
on the topic "Media and human rights", jointly organized by the
Institute of Law and Human Rights and the Media Development Agency
of Azerbaijan, was held for media representatives within the
framework of the "Human Rights Month" in Baku today, Trend's correspondent
reports from the event.


The purpose of the session was to raise awareness of journalists
about the requirements of the legislation in force in the field of
human rights protection and ethical standards of conduct when
carrying out their professional activities.


Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of
Law and Human Rights, Mahammad Guluzade, said that media
representatives play an important role in promoting human rights
and forming public awareness. According to him, the materials
published by the institute on various media resources are regularly
analyzed, and monitoring is carried out.


Guluzade noted that, according to the results of the monitoring,
the number of violations of human rights regulations has decreased
compared to previous periods. He said that although certain
violations are currently observed on 4-5 sites, at least 15 media
resources have eliminated previous shortcomings. According to him,
23 scientific journals publish articles on the topic of law, and
materials published in this direction over the past five years have
been collected in a special article database.


The head of the institute emphasized that there is a serious
need for media support in the work to be done to increase the level
of legal education of the population.


Deputy Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, Natig
Mammadli, in his speech, said that the media has a great
responsibility in the field of human rights protection. He noted
that editorial offices are interested in journalists' participation
in trainings and round tables on human rights.


Mammadli emphasized that journalists must respect human rights
when preparing information, comply with the requirements of
professional ethics, and legislation. According to him, the wider
application of these principles in media activities can also
contribute to the formation of Azerbaijan's international
image.


He highlighted the issue of protecting children's rights and
said that a more sensitive approach should be demonstrated when
publishing information about minors. Mammadli pointed out that in
some cases, during the pre-trial investigation stage, the faces of
adolescents are shown and their personal information is disclosed
to the public, which leads to a violation of rights.


Within the framework of the session, the Institute's
trainer-experts made presentations on the most common human rights
violations in journalistic activities and their legal consequences.
The event provided detailed information on the violation of the
presumption of innocence, interference in personal and family life,
unauthorized disclosure of personal information, violation of
children's rights, spread of materials promoting discrimination and
hate speech, the non-compliance with ethical rules when preparing
suicide news, as well as the inadmissibility of spreading insulting
and defamatory information.


During the event, it was noted that actions causing violations
of human rights give rise to legal liability established by
legislation, and in this regard, it's important for media
representatives to strictly adhere to legal norms and ethical
principles in their professional activities.


At the end of the session, the participants' questions were
answered, and an exchange of views was held on the role and
importance of a sensitive approach to human rights in media
activities.