Azerbaijan Commemorates International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances

As Azerbaijan joins the global community to commemorate the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30, the country's Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, has issued a plea to international organizations to intensify efforts to clarify the fate of nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis who have gone missing due to Armenia's military aggression. The issue of enforced disappearances remains a critical concern for Azerbaijan, with thousands of people still missing in the wake of the 30-year conflict. Despite the country's efforts to recover the remains of its citizens and provide information to families, Armenia has failed to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law.

Key Takeaways:

• The International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to remember thousands of persons missing globally.
• Azerbaijan has reported 4,000 people as missing as a result of Armenia's military aggression, including 71 children, 284 women, and 316 elderly individuals.
• Sabina Aliyeva, the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, has repeatedly called on Armenia to provide information about the missing persons, citing the Geneva Conventions and UNGA resolutions.
• Azerbaijan has been proposing resolutions on missing persons at the UNGA since 2002, but no practical steps have been taken to clarify the fate of the missing.
• Mass graves were discovered in liberated territories and construction sites, and some human remains were identified, but Armenia has failed to provide information about other mass graves.
• Sabina Aliyeva has emphasized the need for international organizations to increase efforts to clarify the fate of the missing Azerbaijanis and for Armenia to fulfill its international humanitarian law commitments.

Statistics:

• 4,000 people are reported missing in Azerbaijan as a result of Armenia's military aggression.
• 71 children, 284 women, and 316 elderly individuals are among the missing.
• 30 years of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia have led to a significant number of enforced disappearances.
• Azerbaijan has proposed resolutions on missing persons at the UNGA since 2002.
• Sabina Aliyeva has repeatedly called on Armenia to provide information about the missing persons.

Sources:

• Azerbaijan State News Agency, "Azerbaijani Commissioner for Human Rights issues appeal regarding August 30 - the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances", August 29, 2025.
• United Nations General Assembly, "Resolution 3265 (XXIX)", November 6, 1974.