Thursday, March 23 2023 22:49

ArmInfo.Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan took part in the III World Forum on Human Rights in Buenos Aires, which was held on March 20-22.

According to the press service of the Human Rights Society of  Artsakh, at a discussion entitled "Violations of human rights and  threats of genocide", organized within the framework of the forum,  Gegham Stepanyan spoke about the war crimes committed during and  after the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh  in the fall of 2020, and also about gross violations of human rights  and international humanitarian law.

He presented detailed facts about the criminal policy of ethnic  hatred systematically and consistently pursued by Azerbaijan against  the people of Artsakh, the undeniable ultimate goal of which is  ethnic cleansing and genocide of the people of Artsakh.

In this context, Gegham Stepanyan mentioned the humanitarian crisis  and large-scale human rights violations caused by the total blockade  that has been ongoing since December 12, 2022. He stressed that,  despite numerous calls from the international community for the  immediate lifting of the blockade, Azerbaijan continues its criminal  behavior, even ignoring the decision of the International Court of  Justice.  Therefore, in order to put an end to Azerbaijani  permissiveness and impunity, the calls and statements of  international actors should be replaced by practical and punitive  actions, forcing Azerbaijan to respect international law and the  authority of the structures created to protect it.

"As a result of the blockade and repeated crimes by Azerbaijan, the  normal life of people in Artsakh is completely disrupted, which leads  to gross violations of the fundamental rights of 120,000 people,  including 30,000 children. The situation in which the people of  Artsakh live, facing ontological problems every day and threats,  clearly proves that in order to ensure the right of the people of  Artsakh to live freely in their homeland, the recognition of their  right to self-determination is an indisputable necessity," Gegham  Stepanyan said.  Gegham Stepanyan is on a working visit to South  America at the invitation of the South American Committee of the ARF.