Artak Beglaryan Sends Letter to UNICEF Executive Director on World Children's Day

The Human Rights Defender of Artsakh sent a letter to UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on November 20, on the occasion of World Children's Day. This was reported by the Artsakh Human Rights Defender's office.

The letter states, "Dear Ms. Fore, November 20 is an important day for the civilized world, as it marks the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) by the UN General Assembly. These two documents are based on the crucial mission of humanity—to unconditionally protect children's rights in any situation, ensuring the conditions necessary for their development. Unfortunately, today, as the world marks the International Day for the Protection of Children, the children of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are deprived of their rights, including the right to life and health, the right to be with their family and community, the right to personal development and protection, the right to education, and a number of other fundamental rights. They have been deprived of their rights due to the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh from September 27 to November 9.

During the war, Azerbaijan deliberately and indiscriminately targeted civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and facilities in approximately 170 (about 70%) communities in Artsakh. At least 50 casualties and 163 injuries, including 1 dead and 9 injured children, were recorded among civilians. To protect their lives and health, the children of Artsakh have been displaced with their families, seeking shelter in safer areas within Artsakh and the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

Schools, kindergartens, and hospitals have also been subjected to deliberate and indiscriminate attacks. Preliminary data indicates that at least 71 schools and 14 kindergartens have been damaged due to Azerbaijani aggression in Artsakh, not including schools and kindergartens in the communities under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces. A total of 23,978 school-age children and 4,036 preschool-age children have been deprived of the right to education. Due to the Azerbaijani occupation and the handover of several communities in Artsakh to Azerbaijan, thousands of children have become homeless, stripped of their rights and carefree childhood. Many children have lost their fathers and relatives and have witnessed shelling, leading to severe psychological trauma and other developmental hindrances.

As the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, I have prepared an urgent report documenting and analyzing the gross violations of the rights of children in Artsakh by Azerbaijan. Considering the protection of children's rights as a priority in all circumstances and expecting your decisive commitment to being a defender of all children in the world, I am sending you the aforementioned report and requesting you properly record the gross violations of the rights of children in Artsakh and take practical steps to remedy the consequences and restore the violated rights."