GENEVA— Azerbaijan has spearheaded the adoption of a significant joint statement at the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, focusing on the human rights impacts of landmines and explosive remnants of war.

According to Trend News Agency, the joint statement, presented by the Croatian representative on behalf of its initiators—Azerbaijan, Albania, Chile, Mozambique, Panama, and Croatia—emphasizes the severe repercussions of landmines on various human rights. Titled "Addressing the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war in the context of human rights," the document discusses the rights to life, health, education, employment, and freedom of movement as being critically affected by the presence of landmines.

The statement also highlights the impediment landmines pose to the safe return of internally displaced persons. It calls for the UN Human Rights Council to actively engage in addressing the issues raised and stresses that the responsibility for any human rights violations suffered by individuals due to landmines rests with the states that deployed them. The document advocates that these states’ human rights obligations should influence their national and international policies concerning landmines.

Furthermore, it points out the importance of exchanging mine maps, a vital task in international cooperation and a key aspect of international human rights law. The UN Secretary-General has cited this exchange as crucial for sustainable peace and development. The endorsement of this statement by a diverse group of 65 countries from Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia underlines its broad international support.

This initiative follows a prior announcement by a representative of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry at a conference titled "Using the Human Rights System to Promote a Mine-Free World and Restore the Rights of Mine Victims," which took place on June 27 at the UN headquarters in Geneva. Azerbaijani diplomats also played a pivotal role as co-authors in the preparation of this document.