Ombudsman participated in the event dedicated to 25th anniversary of ANAMA

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, participated in the event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA).

During her speech at the event, attended by the state officials and representatives of international organizations, the Ombudsman congratulated the management and staff of ANAMA on the anniversary and wished luck in their difficult and responsible activities.

By noting that the elimination of the landmine problem is one of the priority tasks facing our state, the Commissioner said that more than 300 people died or been seriously injured as a result of the explosion of mines and military weapons, and that the numbers are still rising.

S. Aliyeva drew to the attention that the existing landmine problem slows down the process of the safe return of former IDPs to their native lands, seriously hinders the peace-building process and the restoration and construction works in the region.

The Ombudsman emphasized that fact-finding missions had been carried out both during the Second Karabakh War and in the post-war period on the front line, in the areas close to it, as well as in cities and regions where the civilian population was targeted, and a special Ad-hoc report was prepared, in which information was recorded about the ongoing of mine terrorism due to the non-delivery of accurate mine maps. The Commissioner pointed out that the reports, statements, and other documents based on the results of the fact-finding missions were submitted to the relevant international organizations, as well as national human rights institutions of different countries.