Tuesday, August 30 2022 17:06

ArmInfo.Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

Thus, as the press service of the RA MFA reports, the statement  reads, in part:

"30 August is the International Day of the Victims of Enforced  Disappearances, established by the UN General Assembly in 2010, as a  reminder of the horrific violations of human rights caused by  enforced and involuntary disappearances.

Enforced or involuntary disappearance of persons is a violation of  fundamental human rights by its nature, since it infringes on an  entire range of human rights, established by the Universal  Declaration of Human Rights, International Convention for the  Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as well as set  out in International Covenants on Human Rights and other major  international human rights instruments. 

This complex crime violates all range of human rights, including the  right to life, the right not to be subjected to torture and other  cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, the right to  liberty and security, the right to a fair trial, the right to an  effective remedy and the right to know the truth regarding the  circumstances of disappearance. International law constitutes  enforced disappearance in certain circumstances as a crime against  humanity.

The international humanitarian and human rights law seeks to refrain  people from going missing as a result of arbitrary arrests and other  violations occurring during detention and captivity. After the  ceasefire signed on November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan continues to hold  Armenian prisoners of war, including civilians, while the fate of  hundreds of missing persons and dozen cases of enforced  disappearances resulting from the First Nagorno- Karabakh War and the  44-Day War remain unclarified. 

The lack of cooperative approach of Azerbaijani authorities makes it  impossible to accurately estimate the number of missing persons, to  acquire reliable information regarding the fate or whereabouts of  those disappeared, and whether they are still alive.  

Azerbaijan continues to disregard the decisions of the European Court  of Human Rights on the implementation of interim measures to provide  information on Armenian hostages in Azerbaijan, as well as  provisional measures put forward by the International Court of  Justice on December 7, 2021, which instruct Azerbaijan to cease  racist and discriminatory policies against Armenians. 

The issue of disappearances is a humanitarian priority that must be  depoliticized, and it must be addressed with strong political will  and cooperation. In the absence of such an approach, justice, and  social healing, and therefore long-term peace will remain elusive.  

We call on the international community to assume responsibility for  ensuring unconditional access to the whole territory of  Nagorno-Karabakh, which could alleviate the existing humanitarian  crisis.  

On this International Day of the Victims of Forced Disappearances we  express our solidarity with the families of victims and with all  those who suffer from these inhuman acts. We stand up for the rights  of the disappeared today and every day, we keep advocating for  justice and combat impunity for this crime. We reiterate our call of  urgency to stop impunity for enforced disappearance,"the statement  reads.