24 June 2010
BIC highlights the work of Mirvari Gahramanli of Azerbaijan's Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization.
interview
1. Your name?
Mirvari Gahramanli
2. Your organization?
Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization public union (OWRPO)
3. How long have you been involved in civil society activism?
Since 1996.
4. What drives you to be a civil society advocate?
The start of the massive exploration of the oil reserves in Azerbaijan was accompanied by massive human right violations in the oil sector. The existing trade unions became very passive in the protection of worker rights and became closely linked to the structures of the employers. This is what pushed me to be a civil society advocate.
5. Could you talk a little about your work with the Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization? How did you get involved with them?
In connection with a group of oil workers (engineers, workers, etc) from various posts of the departments of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) we began to react to the position of the official trade unions and the reoccurring problems.
The Oil Workers Rights Protection Organization (OWRPO) was founded on September 3, 1996, aiming to protect the human rights in the oil industry of Azerbaijan. Despite the establishment of the organization in 1996, it was registered only in 2006. During these 10 years OWRPO was able to form a positive relationship among the oil workers functioning without registration. The organization, which started with only 10 people, had nearly a thousand members in 1998. One of the reasons for this significant increase in members was the urgent reaction of OWRPO to massive human rights violations associated with local and foreign oil companies.
Thus, none of the state structures (Ministry of Taxes, Labor Inspection) or existing trade unions responded to human rights violations in various oil producing and drilling companies (local and foreign). Consequently, the people were deprived of protection.
Despite the pressure on the organization from several state agencies, we continuted to work for the protection of the rights of the workers. The employees of some companies (Mq.Dermatt, BP, BOSH SHELF, PCH, PSL) were assisted to organize protests. Court cases were launched and consequently big successes were achieved for the Azerbaijan society. Many of the workers’ demands were met and court cases were successful . This also contributed to increasing the size of our organization. In 2005, our membership was 3000.
Since the day of its inception, OWRPO was engaged in protection of human rights, evaluation of the impact of activities of oil companies on society and the environment, as well as transparent, equitable and efficient expenditure of oil revenues, project implementation and actively exploring and eliminating corruption (website: www.nhmt-az.org ). OWRPO’s. mission is to both protect human rights and hold the government accountable.
6. What are the most important human rights issues related to the oil industry in Azerbaijan?
- Labor, socio-economic rights of the employees in the oil sector of Azerbaijan;
- Transparent, equitable and effective use of oil revenues;
- A lack of governmental accountability in the country;
- Violation of the property rights of the people during the implementation of projects funded by oil revenues.
7. Why was it important to petition the World Bank about the Alat-Astera Highway project?
Both the environment and the people living in the area would be affected by the implementation of this seriously detrimental project. For example, they would confiscate the lands of the people by force, leading to the eventual bankruptcy of land owners. That is why the land owners looked to OWRPO for help.
8. What type of World Bank funded project would best meet the needs of the country?
A large amount of oil revenues come into Azerbaijan. In fact, because the country possesses huge oil revenues, the volume of the necessary World Bank loans should be reduced. The large number of loans the country accepts confuses the people. Also, the public can’t decipher which projects are funded by oil revenues and which are funded through loans from multilateral development banks such as the World Bank. Transparency is lacking in both types of projects, though.
As far as what type of projects the World Bank should be funding here, I would give a preference to projects that prioritize the development of alternative energy in Azerbaijan as well as projects that promote the development of agriculture.
9. What are some important areas for human rights advocacy in Azerbaijan?
- Development of civil society
- Development and enhancement of civil society mechanisms
- Assurance of public participation in decision-making
- Application of good practices
10. What can Westerners/people outside the region do to advocate for human rights in region?
- Continue to promote the participation of civil society in diverse international events, such as seminars, World Bank Annual Meetings, conferences, etc.
- Engage in international lobbying around the problems raised by civil society
read more
BIC's Europe and Central Asia webpage
BIC's World Bank Energy Strategy Review webpage
BIC's IFC Policies and Standards Review webpage