An international seminar "On the way to a mine-free world - the example of Azerbaijan" was held in Kuala Lumpur

An international seminar on "On the road to a mine-free world - the example of Azerbaijan" was held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, jointly organized by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Malaysia.

Aydın Safikhanli, head of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, spoke in an online format on the topic "Impact of landmines on human rights" at the international seminar.

In his speech, the chief of staff analyzed the impact of landmines on human rights from the point of view of international humanitarian law and international legal norms and drew attention to the requirements of existing norms in this field. He emphasized that landmines remain one of the biggest threats to the civilian population not only during the armed conflict, but also in the post-war period. This threat directly affects people's right to life, physical and psychological health, right to free movement, right to live in a healthy environment, right to education and right to work. The mine terrorism carried out by Armenia is accompanied by a gross violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, along with harming people's lives and health, as well as the environment.

It was brought to the attention of the participants of the seminar that humanitarian demining is one of the main priority tasks of the Azerbaijan state, that the Demining Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) carries out important activities in this direction, and the difficulties caused by Armenia's failure to submit correct mine maps.

It was reported that the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan carries out consistent and systematic activities in the direction of protecting the rights of landmine victims, their social reintegration and providing them with medical and psychological support, through reports, statements and special reports addressed to international organizations, the human rights violations that occurred as a result of landmine terrorism in Armenia are brought to attention.

It has been brought to attention that the process of carrying out restoration and reconstruction works in the areas polluted by landmines and the return of more than 800,000 former internally displaced persons, whose rights have been violated for thirty years, is seriously delayed. This results in the violation of fundamental human rights of those people.

At the end of his speech, the Head of the Office called on international organizations not to be indifferent to the facts of Armenia's mine terrorism and violations of human rights and freedoms, to support Azerbaijan's activities in the field of demining, as well as to make serious efforts to provide accurate mine maps to our country.