Statement at the Third Committee of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly during the Interactive Dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Delivered by Mr. Shahriyar Hajiyev, First Secretary

15 October 2025

Mr. Chair,

We thank Mr. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, for his comprehensive presentation.

Recommitting to the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is of utmost importance in today’s world. This urgent call is driven by challenges such as conflicts, poverty, discrimination, inequalities, displacement, and climate change.

Azerbaijan is fully committed to its obligations under international law relating to the promotion and protection of human rights and attaches particular importance to constructive dialogue and cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Mr. Chair,

Since 2020, in the post-conflict period, Azerbaijan has launched large-scale and systematic measures for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the liberated territories. These efforts aim to enable hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced persons to exercise their right to safe and dignified return to their places of origin. The Government has already allocated 15 billion USD to rebuild entire cities, towns and villages. The implementation of the Great Return Programme has facilitated the return, resettlement, and integration of more than 50,000 former IDPs in the liberated territories.

Although significant progress has been achieved in restoring nearly three decades of violated human rights for IDPs, substantial challenges remain.

The extensive contamination of the conflict-affected territories by landmines and other explosives seriously obstructs the realisation of the right to return. Since 2020, the number of mine victims has reached 409. This urgent humanitarian situation demands increased accountability and substantial international assistance to enhance national demining capabilities and efforts.

The issue of missing persons is another grave humanitarian concern. Close to 4,000 individuals remain registered as missing. The remains of 218 individuals believed to be among these missing persons have been discovered and exhumed from 29 mass graves in the liberated territories, as of October 2025. The fate and whereabouts of the missing Azerbaijanis require close attention from the UN human rights mechanisms to ensure proper consideration and resolution of this matter.

Azerbaijan has taken decisive steps to investigate and prosecute numerous atrocity crimes committed during the conflict to end impunity for the grave human rights violations. Bringing to justice those responsible is the obligation of Azerbaijan under international law, and the process is carried out in full compliance with relevant national and international norms. 

The concerns outlined above are the true human rights issues facing Azerbaijan, not the groundless allegations listed as “key human rights challenges” in OHCHR’s 2024 report. 

Mr. Chair,

The consideration of human rights issues should be guided by impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, in the spirit of constructive international dialogue and cooperation.

As emphasised by the Secretary-General, securing human rights is a constant work in progress, and Azerbaijan remains committed to cooperating with the OHCHR based on mutual trust and constructive engagement.

Thank you.