Baku: Speaker of Azerbaijan's Parliament Sahiba Gafarova addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union's videoconference on "Protecting the Environment During Armed Conflicts", the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis told APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Gafarova emphasized that protecting the environment during armed conflicts is not merely an environmental issue, but also a humanitarian, legal, and security necessity. In her speech, she highlighted the devastating environmental consequences of armed conflicts, drawing from Azerbaijan's experience. She noted that during the 30-year occupation, the affected territories endured extensive environmental damage. This included the destruction of forests, land degradation, pollution of water resources, devastation of biodiversity, and illegal exploitation of natural resources.

Furthermore, Gafarova pointed out the ongoing threat posed by more than one million landmines buried in the territories. These landmines continue to endanger both people and the environment, hindering environmental restoration efforts and the safe return of internally displaced persons.

The Speaker also outlined the initiatives currently undertaken by Azerbaijan, which include large-scale humanitarian demining operations, ecosystem restoration, reforestation, and green energy projects in the liberated areas. She mentioned that the Azerbaijani parliament is actively strengthening the national legal framework by adopting new laws and amending existing ones to align with the country's international obligations.

In 2024, the Milli Majlis amended the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan to introduce the article "Ecocide," recognizing it as a crime against peace and humanity. Additionally, laws such as "On the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction" and "On Demining Activities" were adopted to further these efforts.

Gafarova also referenced the Final Document adopted at the Parliamentary Meeting jointly organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan during COP29 in Baku in November 2024. She noted that the document urges parliaments to prevent the environmental impacts of conflicts, raise awareness about the ecological damage caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance, and bolster legislative efforts to combat ecocide.