Statement at the Third Committee of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on internally displaced persons
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Azərbaycan Respublikasının |
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Permanent Mission |
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633 Third Avenue, Suite 3210, New York, N.Y. 10017 |
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Statement at the Third Committee of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on internally displaced persons
Delivered by Mr. Shahriyar Hajiyev, First Secretary
21 October 2025 Mr. Chair,
We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report and briefing.
Regrettably, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) keeps rising, the core cause of which is conflicts and violence. The reports show that around 80 million people are internally displaced worldwide, making them a vulnerable group in societies.
Azerbaijan has first-hand experience in this matter, hosting one of the largest per capita displaced populations in the world as a result of the conflict since the early 1990s. The Government ensured the provision of all kinds of assistance to IDPs throughout the years.
In the post-conflict period since 2020, the measures have been continued in the form of restoration of the violated human rights of IDPs, by ensuring their safe and dignified return to their former places of origin.
The Government has launched large-scale rehabilitation and reconstruction measures in the liberated territories, already allocating 15 billion USD, to rebuild entire cities, towns and villages from scratch. The implementation of the Great Return Programme has facilitated the return, resettlement and integration of more than 50,000 former IDPs in 6 cities, 2 towns and 20 villages. Approximately 3,500 pupils began their education in September 2025 at the schools rebuilt in these territories.
The development plan for the liberated territories has been finalised. Based on this plan, covering an area of 13,600 square kilometres, the restoration works are underway to facilitate the return of more than 1.1 million people to their hometowns.
Mr. Chair, However, the above-mentioned efforts to restore living conditions are seriously obstructed by massive contamination of these areas by landmines and other explosives. The number of post-conflict mine victims in Azerbaijan is rising and has reached 410 since November 2020, of whom 71 lost their lives and 339 suffered horrific injuries, most of them civilians. The danger posed by mines necessitates accountability and adequate international assistance for humanitarian demining efforts with a view to strengthening the national efforts to restore the human rights of IDPs. Thank you. |
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