On November 14, the conference titled “The Impact of Azerbaijan’s Aggression on Human Rights and Environmental Protection,” a side event of COP29 organized independently at the American University of Armenia. The conference has been organized by the Armenian Climate Justice Initiative in response to the decision of the United Nations to designate Azerbaijan as the host of COP29, despite concerns over its track record of aggression toward the people of Artsakh, as well as the authoritarian policies and Armenophobic rhetoric of President Ilham Aliyev.
The event addressed the impact of Azerbaijan’s actions on both human rights and environmental protection in the region. Through detailed presentations and panel discussions, we explored the humanitarian crisis, including war crimes, the blockade in Artsakh, the destruction of cultural heritage, and the environmental degradation resulting from Azerbaijan’s actions.
The conference was opened by Ms. Shushanik Harutyunyan, a representative of the Armenian Climate Justice Initiative, emphasizing the interconnection between human rights and environmental justice and introducing the key themes of the event. Dr. Bruce Boghosian, president of AUA, followed with a welcome address, highlighting the institution’s commitment to addressing pressing global issues through academic inquiry and community engagement. Then AUA adjunct lecturer and climate change expert Dr. Irina Ghaplanyan presented Armenia’s climate agenda.
The first panel, moderated by Ms. Luiza Vardanyan, lawyer and human rights defender, focused on the human rights violations and war crimes of Azerbaijan. Panelists included Mr. Ara Ghazaryan, an international law expert; Ms. Anna Melikyan, a legal expert from the Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO; Dr. Siranush Sahakyan, AUA lecturer and representative of Armenian POWs at the European Court of Human Rights; and Mr. Gegham Stepanyan, human rights defender of the Republic of Artsakh. The panel provided a detailed analysis of the legal, humanitarian, and geopolitical dimensions of the conflict, including the occupation of Artsakh in 2023, the ongoing blockade, and the human rights abuses committed against the local population. The speakers underscored the need for continued international advocacy and legal accountability.
Read also
Ms. Greta Thunberg, an environmental activist, and a special guest, delivered a powerful keynote speech. She condemned Azerbaijan’s human rights violations and military aggression. She called for the end of climate conferences being held in countries with a history of repression and highlighted the role of environmental justice in the broader human rights discourse.
The second panel, moderated by Ms. Sona Ayvazyan, director of Transparency International, addressed the consequences of Azerbaijan’s aggression on the environment and cultural heritage. Panelists included Victoria Burnazyan from Ecolur NGO, Armine Hayrapetyan, director of the State Service for the Preservation of Historical Environment of Artsakh, and Tehmine Yenokyan, director of Green Armenia NGO. The discussion examined the environmental destruction caused by the conflict, including the degradation of natural resources, the destruction of cultural landmarks, and the long-term implications for the region’s biodiversity. The panelists also highlighted the deliberate targeting of Armenian cultural heritage, including the destruction of churches, monasteries, and ancient monuments in Artsakh.
The panel discussions were followed by special speeches by Ms. Margarita Karamyan, a forcibly displaced person from Artsakh, who shared her and her relatives’ personal experiences of war and displacement․ The event closed Mr. Arshak Makichyan, environmental and peace activist, who mentioned the importance of peace in environmental protection and stressed Azerbaijan’s continued pressure on Azerbaijani peace activists who speak out for peace with Armenia.
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/factor.am/videos/1061161465550058