Statement: Women’s voices against the resumption of war in the Nagorno-Karabakh

70 participants of the Forum Electoral legislation in the context of evolving democratic processes in Armenia, which was held on 2 April 2016 on the initiative of the Armenian Association of Women with University Education and with the participation of other non-governmental organizations, issued a statement voicing their concern with regard to the Azerbaijan’s leadership’s attempts to resume a war.

The Statement will be submitted to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to the representatives of Russia, the USA and France who serve as Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, to the Security Council of the United Nations Organization and to the UN-Women and will be brought to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

We,

the participants of the Forum

Electoral legislation in the context of evolving democratic processes in Armenia,

which was held on 2 April 2016 on the initiative of the Armenian Association of Women with University Education and with the participation of other non-governmental organizations,

Responding to the fact of active military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan along the entire line of contact with Nagorno-Karabakh on the night of April 1-2, which targeted also civilian population, with the use of tanks, artillery and air force,

Condemning the Azerbaijani leadership’s aggressive and criminal decision to launch military actions, which has already led to deaths and injuries, including peaceful population in Nagorno-Karabakh and, what is more appalling, children,

Expressing concern with regard to unforeseeable consequences of those actions as well as to the position of those international entities that have so far failed to adequately respond to incidents of the ceasefire regime violations committed by Azerbaijan for a number of years already, also targeting borderline regions of Armenia and resulting in numerous deaths, including peaceful population,

Recalling the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women and peace and security and at least 7 similar follow-up Resolutions that aim to ensure full involvement of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts,

Call on the representatives of the UN and other international entities to make the voice of Armenia’s and Karabakh’s women heard and to immediately respond to this unprecedented violation of ceasefire in the conflict zone and to thereby put an end to the Azerbaijani leadership’s unacceptable attempts to resume wide-scale military actions in the region and to the leadership’s goal of solving the Karabakh conflict by force.

Mothers in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh paid a heavy price for the war unleashed by Azerbaijan in 1991 and they are sure that Azerbaijani mothers on the other side of the border, too, are against the resumption of war, the danger of which dramatically increases against the background of the international public’s indifference and of the creation of a climate of impunity regarding the Azerbaijani leadership’s actions.

We are appealing also to all people of good will regardless of what country in the world they are in to join our call for peace and to condemn the attempts of the Azerbaijan’s leadership to embroil the peoples of the region in a war.

Armenian Association of Women with University Education NGO (with its 30 branches)

Women’s Republican Council NGO

Pro Media-Gender NGO

Haytur NGO

Spiritual Armenia NGO

Center for Communities’ Development and Legislative Reforms NGO

Women’s Association for Society’s Development NGO

Students Council of Abovian NGO

Computer Center for Social Support NGO

The statement is open for joining