Final statement on missing persons issue distributed to UN General Assembly and Security Council

The final statement from the international conference on "Addressing the Problem of Missing Persons: Upholding the Right to Know for the Families," held in Baku on October 2-3, 2024, has been officially distributed to the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, Azernews reports.

"In the document, participants of the international conference, referring to the Conventions for the Protection of War Victims as well as relevant documents and resolutions of the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council, recalling the international legal obligations of States in the field of International Humanitarian Law, call on parties to armed conflicts to take all feasible measures to search for missing persons and provide any information on their fate."

The statement further urges international organizations to aid in determining the fate of missing persons and supports establishing a dedicated mechanism to address the issue of missing persons during armed conflicts.

A major outcome of the conference was a proposal to establish an "Annual Baku Dialogue" focused on discussing the complexities surrounding missing persons. "Such a proposal testifies to the high appreciation by the International Community of Azerbaijan's efforts aimed at addressing this humanitarian problem."

The State Commission of Azerbaijan emphasized its dedication to "carrying out active work on the International Stage with the goal of finding and returning missing people and bringing the attention of the World Community to this pressing issue," underscoring the urgency and humanitarian focus of its mission.