An international conference on "The role and independence of lawyers: comparative perspectives", organized by the Council of Europe, the International Commission of Jurists and the Azerbaijani Bar Association, has been held on 15-16 November, in Fairmont Hotel Baku.

The conference was attended by representatives from 16 foreign countries, including heads of bar associations of Belarus, Georgia, Russia and Turkey, members of bar associations of the UK, France, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, representatives of CoE, EU, ICJ, UN, CCBE and other international organizations, judges of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan and other courts, representatives of the Presidential Administration, other state bodies and non-governmental organizations, more than 100 members of the Azerbaijani Bar Association, local and international experts.

The Conference, which lasted 2 days and was held in 4 sessions, aimed to bring together perspectives on the governance and role of the legal profession by international experts and representatives of bar associations from a wide range of countries. The interventions have provided a comparative view on the conditions and requirements that lawyers should comply with while carrying out their professional duty of protection of human rights. Participants of the Conference addressed in particular the organization and governance of the legal profession, lawyers’ ethics and qualification of lawyers. Special attention was given to the role of training for lawyers in shaping an independent legal profession and the manifold resources offered by the Council of Europe and the International Commission of Jurists to that effect.

With the opening remark, Mr Anar Baghirov, Chairman of the Bar Association of the Republic of Azerbaijan, welcomed the participants of the event and informed about the purpose and program of the conference. He also spoke about the measures taken to develop independence of lawyer profession in Azerbaijan in recent time, the importance of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 22 February 2018 in this regard, the problems in this field and the work to be done to resolve them. He emphasized that the current conference plays an important role in exchanging experience and future cooperation with different countries.

Mr Saman Zarifi, Secretary General of the International Commission of Jurists, Mr Kestutis Jankauskas, Head of EU Delegation to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr Azar Jafarov, Deputy Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan also delivered opening remarks.

In addition, the event participants visited the historical sites of Old City and monumental Heydar Aliyev Center. Also the reception has been organized for the guests.