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UN DEMANDS FROM AZERBAIJAN TO FULLY REALIZE HUMAN RIGHTS OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN SPITE OF THEIR "RIGHT TO RETURN"
Azerbaijan Business Center
Dec 6 2013
Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on
violence against women, delivered the statement at the end of her
10-day mission to Azerbaijan.
She pointed out in her statement that during her mission she had the
opportunity to visit IDP settlements in Sumgayit and Qaradaq.
"The conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 1992-1993,
which resulted in the occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani territory,
has had enormous consequences for the displaced communities. It is
estimated that approximately one million refugees and internally
displaced persons (IDPs) - Azerbaijanis from Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh - were forced to flee their homelands. Over half
were women and children. I share the concerns of the CEDAW Committee
(Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against
Women) as regards the vulnerable and marginalized situation of
internally displaced communities, especially women and girls, and
the challenges of their current living conditions", - Manjoo said.
She noted that the Government of Azerbaijan had made efforts to
address access to education, employment, health care, psychological
support and housing.
"Despite such efforts, I witnessed and heard distressing accounts
of hardships and the challenges of living in camps, dormitories and
'hotel' accommodation. I also heard about the distress of women from
"martyr families" who are still waiting for the return of their missing
family members. The political sensitivities in respect of the issue of
the "right to return" of Azerbaijani IDPs, to their regions of origin
which are now under occupation, or any other considerations, should not
deter the Government from further ensuring that these citizens enjoy
the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights, while
they wait for the resolution of the peace process", - Manjoo said.
Her report will be presented to the United Nations Human Rights
Council in 2014.
Azerbaijan Business Center
Dec 6 2013
Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on
violence against women, delivered the statement at the end of her
10-day mission to Azerbaijan.
She pointed out in her statement that during her mission she had the
opportunity to visit IDP settlements in Sumgayit and Qaradaq.
"The conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 1992-1993,
which resulted in the occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani territory,
has had enormous consequences for the displaced communities. It is
estimated that approximately one million refugees and internally
displaced persons (IDPs) - Azerbaijanis from Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh - were forced to flee their homelands. Over half
were women and children. I share the concerns of the CEDAW Committee
(Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against
Women) as regards the vulnerable and marginalized situation of
internally displaced communities, especially women and girls, and
the challenges of their current living conditions", - Manjoo said.
She noted that the Government of Azerbaijan had made efforts to
address access to education, employment, health care, psychological
support and housing.
"Despite such efforts, I witnessed and heard distressing accounts
of hardships and the challenges of living in camps, dormitories and
'hotel' accommodation. I also heard about the distress of women from
"martyr families" who are still waiting for the return of their missing
family members. The political sensitivities in respect of the issue of
the "right to return" of Azerbaijani IDPs, to their regions of origin
which are now under occupation, or any other considerations, should not
deter the Government from further ensuring that these citizens enjoy
the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights, while
they wait for the resolution of the peace process", - Manjoo said.
Her report will be presented to the United Nations Human Rights
Council in 2014.