21 December 2015
The Steering Committee of the Civil Society Forum welcomes the decision of the government of Azerbaijan to transfer the human rights defender Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus from prison to home on health grounds in hope that this step will be followed in the cases of other imprisoned human rights defenders and representatives of civil society in such a way that they will be able to return home and normally continue their activities.
In the context of restored negotiations between the government of Azerbaijan and the European Union, the Steering Committee calls for creation of a suitable environment for the activities of civil society and deepening the relations in the direction of Euro-integration. Noting the importance of civil society’s role in the reforms process, and particularly in the implementation of public oversight of the changes, the Steering Committee of the Civil Society Forum states its readiness to support civil society in Azerbaijan.
Steering Committee Statement
