Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

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Statement of the Coalition for Inclusive Legal Reforms on the difficult humanitarian situation in the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)

March 15, 2022

Joint | Announcements

The Coalition for Inclusive Legal Reforms, which is a union of organizations of persons with disabilities, is outraged by the difficult humanitarian situation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) since March 8.

Due to the damage of the gas pipeline entering from the Republic of Armenia, the gas supply to the Republic of Artsakh has been suspended since then. The damaged part of the gas pipeline is under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, which makes it impossible for Armenians to enter the mentioned territories in the circumstances of the anti-Armenian policy of the Azerbaijani government.

The disruption of the gas supply has led to massive human rights violations of more than a hundred thousand people, having a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities and their families.

The lack of gas supply, exacerbating the humanitarian difficulties of the post-war situation and the pandemic, hinders the realization of the rights to education, health and independent living of the persons with disabilities living in Artsakh. In particular, in the absence of affordable gas and public transport, the rise in gasoline prices has led to an increase in the price of taxi services, which hinders the free movement of citizens, especially those with mobility difficulties. Organizations providing rehabilitation and care services are forced to act with restrictions, failing to provide a completely safe environment for citizens with health conditions. Incomplete operation of pre-school and secondary education institutions may impair the exercise of children's right to inclusive education, leading to the exclusion of children with disabilities from education.

We are deeply concerned about the security and protection of all persons in the Artsakh Republic (Nagorno-Karabakh), as well as the well-founded fear that now pervades the daily life of every member of the society.

We demand from the Republic of Azerbaijan to listen to the collective voice of the people of Artsakh, to take all necessary actions for the urgent restoration of gas supply, intimidation of the civilian population and abandonment of the policy based on Armenophobia, for peaceful coexistence.

We reiterate our call for the observance of the principles of international law, including the rules of war for the protection of the civilian population, for the immediate and unconditional cessation of all hostilities and the demonstrative deployment of heavy military equipment.

We urge the Republic of Armenia to continue the implementation of emergency humanitarian assistance programs in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), prioritizing the support of persons with disabilities and their families, the right to independent living and the security of persons living in institutions. We urge the government to work with organizations for persons with disabilities in Armenia and Artsakh to make all humanitarian assistance programs more inclusive, effective, and accessible.

We expect the international organizations and diplomatic missions to clearly condemn the massive human rights violations by the Azerbaijani authorities, in case of deliberate obstruction of the obstacles, if possible, to impose economic, other obstacles and restrictions, to study, respond to the needs of children and adults with disabilities. We consider the strengthening of organizations created and led by persons with disabilities in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as a priority to protect human rights.

We expect the Russian peacekeeping mission to coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders to achieve the restoration of vital guarantees of social security in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), including the restoration of the gas supply.

We urge humanitarian organizations and individuals to increase their assistance to persons with disabilities while promoting employment for them and their families. It is urgent to provide the Artsakh care nursing home, psychiatric center, and organizations providing child care services with electric heating devices. At the same time, we urge you not to make investments that could indefinitely prolong the isolation of persons with disabilities in the institutions, but to support their right to live in the community and the development of community-based services.