Ganja Regional Center of the Ombudsman held an online awareness event on international humanitarian law

Ganja Regional Center of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan held an online awareness-raising event on international humanitarian law titled “Violation of International Humanitarian Law Norms as a result of an Armenian Military Aggression against Azerbaijan”. Young people from Gazakh, Agstafa and Tovuz districts, located at the frontline, attended the event.

At the event, the head of Ganja Regional Center, Sabuhi Abbasov gave broad information to the participants about the norms of the international humanitarian law applied during warfare. In his speech, he said that while committing military aggression against Azerbaijan, Armenia has disregarded the norms and principles of international humanitarian law and targeted civilians and civilian objects, including houses, hospitals, cultural heritage, which was resulted with one of the gravest acts of genocide - in Khojaly, committed against humanity.

Furthermore, it was underlined that in the Statement, dated July 13, 2020 issued by the Commissioner, she informed the international community concerning the violation of cease-fire regime, the infringement of human rights of civilians of Azerbaijan and international humanitarian law norms as a result of the Armenian military provocations, occurred in Tovuz district of Azerbaijan at the state border with Armenia. It was also reminded that the Commissioner conducted a fact-finding mission to Tovuz villages, shelled by the Armenian armed forces, to make monitoring and assess the situation on-site that was later included in the Interim Report on the findings of that mission and submitted to international organizations.

In addition to the above, it was said that the HRCA has initiated a new project of psychological support, run in the conflict-affected areas to support psychologically adults and teenagers, who were affected of the last military provocative actions, occurred in Tovuz, with support of psychologists, medical experts and staff of the Ombudsman institution. It was stressed that as a result of constant military actions and violations of cease-fire regime by the Armenian side, human rights of civilians living in those areas are severely violated.

The event was continued with interactive discussions and the questions of the participants were answered.