A broad-based global coalition of faith-based and civil society organizations has endorsed a public call, through a joint statement, demanding the creation of “an international negotiating platform for Artsakh, Azerbaijan, and other regional and global stakeholders to realize, under an international mandate, the universally recognized right of indigenous Artsakh Armenian refugees to a collective, protected, and dignified return home.”
As a result of Azerbaijan’s 2023 ethnic cleansing and genocide of Artsakh, over 150,000 indigenous Armenians were forcibly displaced from their ancestral homeland of thousands of years. Azerbaijan’s genocide followed a ten-month blockade that deprived Artsakh’s Armenian population of food, medicine, fuel, electricity, and other essentials”acts carried out in blatant violation of international law.
The ‘right of return’ is a universally acknowledged principle of international law, guaranteeing every person the right to voluntarily return to their country of origin”regardless of citizenship or status. This right is enshrined in several treaties and conventions, including the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1966 Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the 1948 Fourth Geneva Convention.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in a legally binding order for provisional measures, recognized the right of Armenians to return to Artsakh following the ethnic cleansing, and gevncoide. The ICJ directed Azerbaijan to “ensure that persons who have left Nagorno-Karabakh after September 19, 2023, and who wish to return to Nagorno-Karabakh are able to do so in a safe, unimpeded, and expeditious manner.”
Further information on Artsakh’s right of return can be found in the ANCA policy brief at anca.org/return. Additionally, a comprehensive survey of international governments, organizations, and human rights groups affirming this right is available in the ANC-International’s report, “Legal Basis of the Right of Return: Recent Positions on the Right of Return of Artsakh Citizens.”
On December 2, 2023, the Artsakh Parliament established the Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Artsakh. This body advocates for the safe, dignified, and collective return of Artsakh’s displaced population.
The Committee is among the signatories to the joint statement, which, as of November 27, 2024, includes the following organizations and individuals:
A Demand for Action
Ambassador Sam Brownback
American Friends of Kurdistan
Anglican Office for Government and International Affairs
Armenian Bar Association
Armenian Catholic Eparchy
Armenian Church Youth Organization of America
Armenian Council of America
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party
Armenian Evangelical Union of North America
Armenian General Benevolent Union
Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights
Armenian National Committee of America
Armenian Relief Society
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Youth Federation
Artsakh Union
Christian Solidarity International
Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the Artsakh People
Coptic Solidarity
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church ” Eastern U.S
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church ” Western U.S
European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy
Foro Artsaj de la Republica Uruguay
Foro Artsaj de la Republica Argentina
Global Christian Relief
Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural Association
Hellenic American Leadership Council
Hindu American Foundation
Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union
Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust ” HART
In Defense of Christians
International Christian Concern
Knights of Vartan
Nasarean.org
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church ” Eastern U.S
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church ” Western U.S
Rev. Joel Tenney
Save Armenia
Shai Fund
Social Hunchakian Democratic Party
Tekeyan Cultural Association
Zovighian Public Office
