No:074/23, Press release on the circulation of the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the recruitment of children by Armenia into armed forces and armed groups as a document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council
15 February 2023 09:50
The report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the recruitment of children by Armenia into armed forces and armed groups has been circulated as a document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
The report, prepared with the aim of once again exposing Armenia’s acts contrary to international law, reflects detailed information on the recruitment of children by this country into armed forces and armed groups and their use as a means of spreading ethnic and national hatred against Azerbaijan and our people.
The report demonstrates, on the basis of information, photo and video materials obtained from open sources, as well as facts reflected in reports of third sides on the issue, that Armenia grossly violates the provisions of a number of international conventions, and exposes its acts that pose a threat to peace and security by instilling hatred on ethnic and national grounds.
The document stresses that Armenia continues, also in the post-conflict period, its activities of involving children in military trainings, instilling hatred and enmity in them, and preparing them for a new war against Azerbaijan.
It was emphasized that this is a gross violation of children’s rights and international humanitarian law, as well as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and in particular, a clear example of Armenia’s failure to comply with its obligation arising from the order of the International Court of Justice dated 7 December 2021 on provisional measures prohibiting Armenia from promoting racial hatred through individuals and organizations operating on its territory and targeting Azerbaijanis.
The document appeals to the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as relevant mandate holders, to ensure that Armenia is held internationally legally accountable for international criminal acts and that the activities of this country involving the unlawful recruitment and use of children into armed forces and armed groups are stopped.
The report circulated as a document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council can be accessed through this link.