Umud Mirzayev, the Chair of International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) met with Leila Zerrougui, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict within the framework of his official visit to Geneva.
The IEPF Chair stated “Azerbaijan pays special attention to the protection of the rights of children who are the future of the society.”
The Constitution of Azerbaijan and number of legislative and regulatory acts regulate the issues, related to social and legal protection of children.
“In addition to those children, there are also children who became refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), in result to Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan”, - U.Mirzayev added.
“Today 20% territory of Azerbaijan has been occupied as a result of the military aggression of Armenia. Because of this aggression more than one million people became refugees and IDPs”, he said.
The children who have grown up in tent camps and compact settlements lived as deprived of the realization and implementation of all legislative acts on children’s rights. 616 schools, where more than a hundred thousand children studied, have been destroyed in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
In general, many educational institutions including 242 preschool institutions, 4 colleges, 11 vocational schools, one high school where more than twelve thousand children studied have suspended its work. Hundreds of children were killed, captured or lost their parents or relatives during the war.
Unfortunately, international organizations are not commenting on this issue while talking about the Karabakh conflict.
Speaking about the activity of organization run by him, the Chair of IEPF stated the cooperation with UN agencies, and especially, joint projects with the United Nations Children's Fund – UNICEF. Mirzayev gave broad information to Mrs. Zerrougui about the event on violation of children’s rights in conflict zones, which is to be held at the UN headquarters in Geneva on March 10 by IEPF.
The event will bring together public figures, representatives of international civil society, and officials of the UN agencies and diplomats of various countries.
“I hope that we will manage to raise awareness of the international community about children who subjected to deprivations and violations during wars, including Azerbaijani ones”, Mirzayev stressed.
He added that a special documentary, prepared by his organization, would be demonstrated on the sidelines of the event.
Expressing her contentment about the works done by the IEPF in the field of protection of children rights, Mrs. Zerrougui said she was impressed by this information and figures.
At the end of the meeting, on behalf of IEPF a special gift reflecting the main heroes of great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi's "Layla and Majnun" was presented to Leila Zerrougui.
Editor: Orkhan Garibov, Taleh Guliyev
