‘Artsakh’s Road to Recovery: Holding Azerbaijan Accountable’ event held at UN office

On November 14, 2023, a side event titled ‘Artsakh’s Road to Recovery: Holding Azerbaijan Accountable’ was held at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The event was organized by the Armenian Relief Society in conjunction with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process for Azerbaijan.

The event brought together various experts, state delegations, lawyers, and other interested parties to address the human rights violations and genocidal actions committed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, Armenia, and Armenians in general in recent months that resulted in the forced displacement of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians of Artsakh, the humanitarian crisis, and the arrest of Artsakh officials. The purpose of the discussion was to identify possible ways to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its actions.

During the event, speakers presented in detail the massive violations of human rights by Azerbaijan and provided the necessary information.

Former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Professor Luis Moreno Ocampo, stated that Azerbaijan’s actions against Armenians correspond to Articles 2A, 2B, 2C of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and that the Azerbaijani authorities deliberately did not prevent genocide, which is one of the main obligations of the state, according to the said convention.

He also criticized the international community for its unwillingness to prevent the genocide and its constant denial.

Co-founder and Legal Affairs Director of the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, Irene Victoria Massimino, during her speech, drew attention to various alerts and warning reports issued by the Lemkin Institute, which clearly indicated the progression through the 10 stages of genocide.

She stressed the need to accurately label the crimes committed by Azerbaijan, using legally recognized terms to describe them.

In her concluding remarks, she underscored the importance of accountability and justice, stating that true peace is impossible without accountability for such atrocities.

Head of the Faith and Order Program of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Ani Ghazaryan-Drissi, stressed the importance of the information and awareness initiatives undertaken by the Council. She noted the organization’s efforts to bring attention to the ongoing tragedies in Artsakh and its role in resolving the conflict through meaningful dialogue.

Dr. Ghazaryan-Drissi emphasized that the WCC focuses on the preservation of cultural heritage and Christian civilization, the release of representatives of the leadership of Artsakh, and other detainees illegally held by Azerbaijan.

The meeting was held by Dr. Kevork Hagopgian, ALC’s Board Member and ARS’s Representative to the Human Rights Council.
The event fostered a meaningful discussion, which allowed the participants to get valuable insights into Azerbaijan’s human rights violations. The discussions were important in terms of the ongoing efforts to hold Azerbaijan accountable.

The Armenian Relief Society remains committed to its mission of assistance and justice, as evidenced by the impactful event organized by the UN Human Rights Council. The event proves the commitment of the organizers, panelists, and participants to solving the key problems and working towards a path of recovery for Artsakh.