Azerbaijan Issues Statement at UN Regarding Missing Persons in First Karabakh War
Azerbaijan has issued a statement at the United Nations regarding persons who went missing during the First Karabakh War.
Operativ Media reports that Nahida Baghirova, Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN, delivered the statement during an open debate titled "Women, Peace and Security in the Next Quarter Century: Delivering on the Promise through Implementation."
"Regrettably, armed conflicts around the world continue to disproportionately affect women and children. Widespread violations persist amid non-compliance with international obligations, as well as a lack of accountability for breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights," she said.
Baghirova recalled that the humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts, as acknowledged in Security Council Resolution 2474 (2019), require timely and adequate international support to address the needs and challenges faced by affected populations, including women and girls:
"Despite the end of the decades-long conflict and progress in advancing the peace agenda in the region, the fate and whereabouts of thousands of Azerbaijanis missing in connection with the past armed conflict remain a pressing source of humanitarian concern.
Clarifying the fate of missing persons and advancing international efforts in this regard remain of paramount importance to Azerbaijan.
In the post-conflict period, Azerbaijan has undertaken large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation to enable internally displaced persons to exercise their right to a safe, voluntary, and dignified return to their homelands. Under the Great Return Program, specific measures have been implemented to empower women and girls and ensure their meaningful participation in the recovery process.
However, these efforts remain severely hampered by the persistent threat posed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Since November 2020, 443 people, including women and children, have fallen victim to landmine incidents, and these numbers continue to grow. This dire situation underscores the urgent need for adequate international assistance to bolster national humanitarian demining capacity and support mine clearance efforts.
Despite these challenges, as a result of measures implemented by the government, approximately 96,000 people have already returned and are currently living and working in rebuilt cities, towns, and villages."
