UN highlights issue of Azerbaijanis missing during Garabagh War
Baku, September 15, AZERTAC
Azerbaijani civil society representatives made productive and results-oriented contributions to the 31st session of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) in Geneva, said Umud Mirzayev, President of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), who participated in the session in Geneva.
According to him, representatives of Azerbaijani civil society actively participated in the session’s opening on September 14, a special briefing for civil society organizations, the Committee’s review of Armenia’s second periodic report, and a series of meetings held during and after the discussions.
Throughout the day, Umud Mirzayev, as well as Sahib Mammadov, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Citizens' Labor Rights Protection League, and IEPF representative John Ayomide participated in various events and discussions.
At the special briefing, Mirzayev and Mammadov highlighted key issues raised in Azerbaijani civil society organizations’ alternative reports and answered questions from Committee members. John Ayomide later delivered a joint statement on behalf of Azerbaijani civil society organizations.
The joint statement was submitted by the IEPF, the Citizens' Labor Rights Protection League, the Human Rights Training and Research Public Union, and the Garabagh Missing Families Public Union. Despite not participating in the session, the Garabagh Missing Families Public Union also endorsed the joint statement.
IEPF President Umud Mirzayev said one of the key outcomes of the Azerbaijani NGOs’ visit to Geneva was that their findings and concerns were reflected in the UN Committee’s questions to Armenia during its review of the country’s second periodic report. He stressed that their goal was to ensure that the cases of Azerbaijanis missing for decades were discussed within the relevant UN mechanism.
According to him, Azerbaijani civil society representatives focused on missing persons, particularly those who disappeared after being taken captive or hostage during the First Garabagh War, including women and children, as well as information on detention sites and mass graves. Materials submitted by Azerbaijani NGOs called for clarification of the fate of 4,010 missing Azerbaijanis, disclosure of information held by Armenia on those who disappeared after being taken captive or hostage, and the provision of the coordinates of mass graves and burial sites to Azerbaijan.
“Determining the fate of missing persons is a humanitarian and human rights issue, not a political dispute. Thousands of families have waited for decades for answers. Armenia should disclose information on missing persons and possible burial sites, both as a humanitarian obligation and to help build trust between the two countries,” the IEPF president emphasized.
Other news in this section
