The 'Missing Families of Karabakh' Public Union has submitted an appeal to the United Nations (UN). On behalf of the families of 3,890 individuals who have gone missing as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, we, as a public organization uniting the family members of Azerbaijanis, urge the UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, the President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, the President of the UN Human Rights Council, Mr. Václav Bálek, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, to take notice of our plea.

In accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law, as established in the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, the right of the families of individuals missing during armed conflicts to receive information is unequivocally recognized; this is a fundamental right shared by all human beings.

Regrettably, we have been denied this right for more than 30 years. Armenia has consistently refused to provide information about missing Azerbaijanis, inflicting upon us endless suffering. Parents pass away longing for their missing children, holding their photos close to their hearts. Children can only imagine their missing parents based on what is said about them. This represents the tragedy and horror faced by thousands of families every day.

The first Karabakh war, initiated by Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan in the 1990s, resulted in the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, accompanied by vandalism, looting, loss of life, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. Approximately 1 million Azerbaijani citizens became refugees or internally displaced persons, 20,000 lives were lost, and 50,000 individuals suffered injuries.

As a consequence of Armenia's military aggression, 3,890 people were registered as missing during the first Karabakh war, including 3,171 military personnel and 719 civilians. Among the civilians, 71 are minors, 267 are women, and 326 are elderly individuals. Of the total number of missing persons, 872 people, including 29 children, 98 women, and 112 elderly individuals, were taken hostage or remained in the occupied territories, as confirmed by witness statements. In several cases, individuals disappeared along with their family members, leading to the tragic destruction of entire families and generations. Our research indicates that between 2 and 7 members of 61 families went missing during the First Karabakh War, and the fate of none of them is known. This situation is not only a disservice to the families of the missing Azerbaijanis but also a disservice to all of humanity.

In September 2020, the Azerbaijani Army successfully carried out a counter-offensive operation to liberate the homeland from occupation and implement the UN resolutions adopted in 1993. However, the excessive pollution of these territories during the occupation has prevented the return of people, including the missing families, to their homelands. Additionally, Armenia has not provided Azerbaijan with accurate mine maps or information about the mass graves of the missing, resulting in the unfortunate loss of over 300 Azerbaijani citizens due to mine explosions in the past 3 years.

In recent years, significant efforts by relevant state institutions in the Republic of Azerbaijan have been made to clarify the fate of the missing, including taking biological samples from families, extracting DNA profiles, and conducting excavations in territories liberated from occupation. Although these steps provide us with hope, the discovery of 9 mass graves in a short period has left us deeply saddened.

One mass grave was uncovered in Bashlibel village, Kalbajar district, three in Edilli village, Khojavand district, one in Farrukh village, Khojaly district, two in Dashalti village, Shusha district, one in Shusha city, and one in Saricali village, Aghdam district. Several more mass graves have been traced, and research is ongoing in these areas.

The mass killing and inhumane burial of individuals, leading to their disappearance, represent a profound disrespect for all human values and a display of brutality that should concern all humanity.

We implore you to call upon Armenia to disclose information regarding the fate of the missing persons and to share the locations of mass graves with the Azerbaijani authorities.

The issue of missing persons transcends national boundaries; it is a global concern, not confined solely to Azerbaijan. In order to address this issue effectively, it is crucial that the UN system increases its efforts. Hence, we beseech you to contribute to the establishment of a UN special rapporteur on missing persons. Your involvement will be invaluable in helping us find answers and bring solace to the countless families affected by this deeply painful situation.