acquaintance with the activity of the Commissioner in ensuring the rights of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. The Commissioner replying to the questions of interest of the guest gave comprehensive information about the activity in human rights field, also as the NPM. The applications addressed to the Ombudsman during the visits, ensuring the rights of detainees were among the main topics of discussion. In 2016, the Commissioner received the deputy head of the COE Office in Baku Joel Mermet47. The responsible person for the project of the COE Office also attended the meeting. Strengthening the cooperation relations and their importance with international organizations, including COE, the Commissioner gave comprehensive information on joint measures, awareness events organized for representatives of the state authorities, NGOs and mass media and expressed her interest in intensive continuation of cooperation as in previous years. She emphasized the designation of the Ombudsman as the institute responsible for fulfilling the NPM functions, conduction of visits to places which persons cannot leave on their own will for carrying out more efficient activity in this field, informed the guest about the work carried out in this direction and appraised the NPM as a very important mechanism in efficient protection of human rights. Alongside with this, wide information was given regarding cooperation of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan with state bodies, as well as the Parliament, proposals submitted on more efficient provision of human rights and their implementation status, surveys submitted to the Constitutional Court. Within the frames of the activity as the NPM, the Commissioner held meetings with Anna Leshinskaya and ChingizAbdijaparov, the program representatives on defense issues of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Azerbaijan Delegation48. She noted that the Ombudsman has built efficient cooperation relations with international organizations, including ICRC, and its Azerbaijan Delegation, brought to the attention the usefulness of joint cooperation on relevant directions of activity. The head of the Department of the Ombudsman Office gave comprehensive information on the directions of activity of the Ombudsman institution, its mandate, designation as the institution fulfilling the NPM functions, conduction of regular visits to the places which persons cannot leave on their own will for more efficient carrying out the relevant activity. A. Leshinskaya thanked for the provided information, put the questions of interest and talked about the cooperation directions, also discussed future cooperation relations. The guests expressed their interest in continuation of 47 http://www.gununsesi.info/ombudsman-joel-mermeti-q%C9%99bul-edib/ http://ombudsman.gov.az/en/view/news/330/icrc-country-office-delegation-wasreceived-at-the-ombudsman-office 48 79