Eurovision's Dirty Secret? Really!

The BBC(UK) broadcast a documentary last night titled" Eurovisions Dirty Secret" –you would think it was an investigation into the EBU or vote rigging in the contest by the programme’s title but no it was about corruption in the host country Azerbaijan and their lack of human rights and equality.

Therefore to begin with the title was wrong- Azerbaijan’s Dirty Secret would have been more appropriate.

As a result of the documentary there has been a bit of backlash to ESC in the social media networks such as twitter – but I think what is missing is the understanding, as the Director General of EBU pointed out – Eurovision has actually created the opportunity to highlight internationally the issues of human rights and corruption in Azerbaijan, and its not the responsibiliy of the contest to address these issues, nor does the ESC have that power to do so even if it wanted to.

Being the BBC they had a bit of a dig at the contest, in terms of UK viewers dismissive attitude to ESC, although all credit to 1967 winner Sandie Shaw, who independently highlighted the responsibility of journalist to raise the political issues and have them dealt with but that was not part of ESC, its a song contest/enteraintment.

I thought the D.G. of EBU spoke very well and honestly on her views and outlined the limited authority EBU has on independent states. She voiced her concerns at the selection of the interval act singer being the son-in-law of the president but again EBU had no control on this issue and nor should they have.

Many of the scenes of riots reminded me of western European areas such as Northern Ireland in the late 1960’s early 1970s and the Civil Rights movement, maybe Azerbaijan is a relatively new nation and over 40 years behind Western Europe, and we have responsibility as European citizens to help them move the human rights agenda forward.

What was really strange in the programme was that the BBC investigative journalist was unable to interview the UK’s Englebert Humperdinck on the human rights element – but then why should he have a view, he is a singer and he’s going there to sing. They didnt interview any British political figure to seek their views on UK relationships with Azerbaijan!

I was left wondering that after ESC departs from Baku will the BBC continue to exploit the lack of human rights and corruption in Azerbaijan – will they follow this up with an investigation into the European and American Corporate interest in industries such as telecommunications, construction, gold mining, oil or was it just easy to have a pop at the Eurovision song contest.

I sincerely hope that ESC will be a gateway to addressing the issues of human rights and equality for all the citizens of Azerbaijan, that now the spotlight has been put on the issue that those with a political interest internationally will use this as an opportunity to build off and maintain the pressure so that there is an equitable and just society for all its citizens.

the 30 minute programme is on the BBC iplayer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01j8hf1/Panorama_Eurovisions_Dirty_Secret/