Access to conflict-affected territories remains very limited for  humanitarian organizations - CE Commissioner for Human Rights

ArmInfo.Dunja Mijatovic, CE Commissioner for Human Rights, at the PACE session on April 26 released an annual report. 

The report reads:

"Memorandum on the humanitarian and human rights consequences  following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and  Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

"On 8 November, one year after the signing of the trilateral  statement which ended the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between  Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, the Commissioner  published a memorandum addressing the humanitarian and human rights  consequences of the conflict and formulated eight recommendations for  urgent human rights protection.

"The Commissioner observed that access to the conflict-affected  territories remains very limited for organisations providing  humanitarian relief and conducting human rights monitoring and called  on all the relevant authorities to ensure access to these areas as a  matter of priority. Noting that the 2020 outbreak of hostilities  forced tens of thousands of people living in or near the conflict  area into displacement, she reiterated the human rights of displaced  persons, including their right to return.

"The Commissioner also addressed the high level of contamination of  the region by unexploded and abandoned mines and explosive remnants  of war and called on the authorities to co-operate and engage in the  necessary exchange of information, including mine maps, so as to  facilitate the demining process and ensure effective protection of  the people residing in the conflict-affected areas.

"Moreover, ensuring that all those still in captivity are provided  with all protections guaranteed under international humanitarian and  human rights law, and facilitating their release and return, remains  crucial.  Referring to the families' right to know the fate and  whereabouts of missing persons, she noted the need for increased  engagement on both sides to promote communication, establish a common  database and improve the chances of locating and identifying mortal  remains as well as to establish the fate of all those who disappeared  or went missing.

"Furthermore, noting credible reports about breaches of international  humanitarian law as well as serious violations of human rights by the  parties to the conflict, the Commissioner called on the authorities  to carry out thorough, prompt, independent and impartial  investigations into such allegations of violations committed during  the conflict and its aftermath in order to hold the perpetrators  accountable and provide redress to the victims. In particular, she  expressed concern about reports of indiscriminate shelling of  populated areas resulting in deaths and serious injuries to  civilians, calling on Armenia and Azerbaijan to renounce the use of  cluster munitions and to ensure effective investigations and  accountability for violations of international humanitarian law, as  well as reparations to the victims. Lastly, noting how the public  debate in both countries had increasingly been marked by toxic,  hostile, intolerant and downright disrespectful communication, she  encouraged the authorities to take resolute action to prevent and  combat hate speech and support bilateral and multilateral initiatives  that promote peaceful coexistence and reconciliation.

"The memorandum is available on the Commissioner's website, together  with the comments of the Armenian authorities and the comments of the  Azerbaijani authorities."