Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1. A special
resolution calling for the protection of landmine victims’ rights
was introduced within the framework of the United Nations (UN)
Human Rights Council in Geneva on April 1, led by Azerbaijan’s
initiative and co-authorship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan told Trend.
The resolution was presented during a high-level event on the
topic “Landmines, Human Rights, and Environmental Degradation –
Effective Assistance for Landmine Victims,” held within the 58th
session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The event was jointly organized by Azerbaijan’s Permanent
Mission to the UN in Geneva and the Universal Rights Group (URG),
with participation from permanent missions to the UN, renowned
human rights organizations and experts, as well as international
media representatives.
Elshad Iskenderov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador-at-Large for Special
Tasks, delivered the main speech at the event. He announced that
the “Impact of Anti-Personnel Mines on the Full Exercise of All
Human Rights” resolution, co-authored by Azerbaijan, had been added
to the agenda of the UNHRC.
He also highlighted that this was the first time a special
report on the issue had been presented at the UNHRC. In addition, a
joint statement, supported by 65 countries, was issued last year at
the 57th session of the UNHRC under Azerbaijan’s initiative.
Iskenderov emphasized that due to Armenia’s occupation of
Azerbaijani lands, Azerbaijan ranks as the second most
mine-contaminated region in Europe. He also noted that, during the
post-conflict period, 383 Azerbaijani citizens had lost their lives
and health due to landmine explosions, with a total of
approximately 4,000 landmine victims in Azerbaijan.
Representatives from Algeria, Gambia’s Permanent Missions to the
UN in Geneva, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Violations,
Ambassador Yvette Stevens, and other speakers discussed
international cooperation in the fight against landmines, mutual
experience exchange, and potential international mechanisms for
assisting landmine victims.
A presentation of the “Campaign for Landmine Justice” was also
held during the event, introduced by lawyer and founder of the
International Human Rights Advisers (IHRA) organization, Ben Kit.
The campaign’s primary goal is to establish an international
solidarity mechanism for ensuring the rights of landmine
victims.
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