October 2 is the International Day of Non-Violence, established by the United Nations in 2007. The day serves as yet another opportunity to present to the international community the various manifestations of the use of force by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Artsakh, with the aim of condemning these acts and preventing further violence.
By adopting the resolution proclaiming this day, the United Nations calls upon Member States to take into account fundamental human rights and to combat all forms of violence, reaffirming the principle of non-use of physical and psychological violence, which must serve as the foundation of inter-state relations and the peaceful coexistence of societies. The UN also emphasizes that tolerance and unconditional respect for human rights are interconnected and form a solid basis for building and promoting a culture of non-violence.
It is important to note that Azerbaijan, as a UN member state, while fully aware of the importance of refraining from violence and the binding force of international treaties that prohibit it, has not abandoned its policy of using and glorifying force. As a result, Azerbaijan has violated the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force, instigated wars, targeted peaceful settlements, children, and civilians, and destroyed civilian infrastructure. Through systematic use of fear, torture, and violence, hundreds of thousands of Armenians of Artsakh have been deprived of their fundamental rights to live and create in their historical homeland, their identity, community life, historic cemeteries, and cultural heritage. It must also be clearly stated that Armenian prisoners held in Baku’s prisons have also been subjected to physical and psychological abuse, torture, and grave violations of human rights.
The Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees joins in marking the International Day of Non-Violence and urges international organizations, including UN Member States, to remain consistent in addressing Azerbaijan’s policies, which have resulted in the complete depopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh, leaving behind a land rich with thousands of years of cultural and historical heritage.
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Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees
