Monday, October 12 2020 14:52

ArmInfo. In line with the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on 5 October 2020, UNESCO expresses its grave concern with the continuing escalation of  violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, which is causing  rising civilian casualties and inflicting damage on civilian  infrastructure, including on schools, cultural and religious sites,  and also affecting the safety of journalists. This is stated in the  official message of the organization.

UNESCO urges all sides to comply with their obligations under  international humanitarian law, notably under the 1954 Hague  Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of  Armed Conflict and its two (1954 and 1999) Protocols, to ensure the  prevention of damage to cultural heritage in all its forms.

This also includes the obligations under the United Nations Security  Council Resolution 2222 (2015) on the protection of journalists,  media professionals and associated personnel in situations of  conflict, to promote free, independent and impartial media as one of  the essential foundations of a democratic society, and which can  contribute to the protection of civilians.

UNESCO also calls on all sides to refrain from any attacks on, or  harm to, children, teachers, education personnel or schools, and  urges them to uphold the right to education, recalling the principles  of the Safe Schools Declaration, and its guidelines that restrict the  use of schools and universities for military purposes, strengthen the  protection of education from attack and ensure continuity of safe  education during armed conflict.

UNESCO stands ready to render necessary assistance within its  mandate, to support the implementation of these obligations and  commitments.