One year on from the brutal 44-day war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, serious human rights abuses continue, while the response from the international community remains insufficient.
This event brings together leading experts and activists to present new findings on the treatment of Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, many of whom are still detained in violation of international humanitarian law. Speakers will present accounts of rights violations carried out against Armenian communities by the Azerbaijani military and will discuss state policies and rhetoric that have led to a problematic post-war atmosphere, with widespread disinformation and increased discrimination and tensions in the region.
Exploring options for more active international engagement and monitoring, the conversation will focus on roles the EU, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights could play in helping to stabilize the region, remedy ongoing rights violations, and prevent possible future escalation.
Speakers
Levon Gevorgyan
Speaker
Levon Gevorgyan is a practicing advocate in Armenia with experience before international courts.
Heidi Hautala
Speaker
Heidi Hautala is vice-president of the European Parliament and a member of the European Parliament in the Greens/European Free Alliance group.
Siranush Sahakyan
Speaker
Siranush Sahakyan is a human rights lawyer, anticorruption expert, and founder of the NGO Path of Law.
Yervand Shirinyan
Moderator
Yervand Shirinyan is acting director of the Open Society Foundations–Armenia.
Arman Tatoyan
Speaker
Arman Tatoyan is the human rights defender (ombudsman) of Armenia and an ad hoc judge in the European Court of Human Rights.