"Human Rights Protection Union of Refugees from Artsakh" NGO  President: Restoring the rights of Artsakh refugees requires  collective action

ArmInfo.Joint efforts and actions are needed to restore justice and safeguard the rights of Artsakh refugees. Andranik Grigoryan,  the organizer of the event and President of the "Human Rights Protection Union of Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh," made this statement during the conference "Artsakh: Refugees, Rights and Opportunities" held in Matenadaran.

According to him, the scientific conference brought together  historical-legal and legal experts to address the current issues of  Artsakh refugees, explore  legal solutions for their resettlement,  and discuss the preservation of the cultural heritage of the region.  The Chairman of the Union expressed confidence that the discussions  would enhance understanding of the issues of Artsakh refugees, and  contribute to the protection  and restoration of their rights, while  also raising international awareness of this important topic.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Union also pointed out that the  refugee issue has become one of the most urgent legal and  humanitarian issues in the conditions of war. He noted that, despite   existing mechanisms for the protection of human rights, the world  community is unable to achieve its main goal. This is evident in the  existence of the refugee phenomenon itself and the lack of  determination in restoring their rights.  Grigoryan mentioned the  crimes committed by Azerbaijan during the large-scale military  aggression against Artsakh in the fall of 2020. These crimes included  atrocities against prisoners, inhumane torture, massive human rights  violations, and the destruction of the region's cultural and  spiritual heritage.

He emphasized that the crimes committed by Azerbaijan against  Armenians violate international norms and principles, including the  UN Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, the European Convention  on Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions, the Hague Convention for the  Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites and the UN Convention on Racial  Discrimination. Grigoryan assured that for these reasons, the "Human  Rights Protection Union of Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh" aims to  raise the issue of restoring all violated rights of the Artsakh  people at all possible venues.

 In this regard, he noted that the Union has already had the  opportunity to present the crimes of Azerbaijan and their  consequences, as well as the violated rights of the Artsakh people  and the need to restore them, in European capitals. According to  Grigoryan, the issues they voiced are understood by an external  audience, but the main problem of the Artsakh people is the lack of  conditions for a dignified and safe return under international  guarantees. The conference was attended by representatives from  various professional circles, both from Armenia and  other countries.