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The Report on Human Rights Violations Committed by the
Armenian Armed Forces during Azerbaijan & Armenia War 11

2. INTRODUCTION

There are Ombudsman Institutions in more than 140 countries around the
World. Ombudsmen are mandated to protect individuals against human rights
violations, abuses of authority, unfair decisions, and misconducts. As human rights
institutions, Ombudsmen are also obliged to put forth the efforts necessary to promote
the culture of seeking rights; to strengthen human rights not only in their respective
countries, but around the entire World; and to raise awareness as required to such
ends. A large number of international ombudsman associations/institutes have
been established for such purposes as allowing for exchange of information and
sharing good practices within the framework of such mandates and obligations.
One of such organizations is represented by the OICOA founded in Islamabad
on 29 April 2014. The Association has 33 active members. It had been governed
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by a “Steering Committee” for a period of 5 years. However, an election was held
for its “Board of Directors” during the meeting of General Assembly held on

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19 November 2019 in Istanbul, whereby Chief Ombudsman Şeref Malkoç was
elected as the first Chairman of the Association. The first meeting of the Board of
Directors was held on 14 October 2020, but the event was organized online due
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to the global COVID-19 pandemic that has given rise to disease control efforts in
all countries of the World. During the said meeting, one of the members of the
Board of Directors, Azerbaijani Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva provided the Board
with information on the attacks launched by Armenia against military and civilian
targets along the Upper Karabakh frontline and invited all members of the Association
to Baku to observe the human rights violations involved on site. Chief Ombudsman
and Chairman of OICOA Şeref Malkoç accepted this invitation and organized an
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inspection visit to Azerbaijan on 21 -23 October 2020 together with a delegation
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of the Ombudsman Institution including Celile Özlem Tunçak, Ombudsperson
in charge of the rights of women and children, with the aim of conducting on-site
investigations.