“The proposal itself is so dangerous in terms of its nature that...”

A delegation from the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) visited Azerbaijan from September 22 to October 3 as part of a periodic review of the country. This was the first mission since the CPT delegation was denied entry to the country last summer.

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which began in Baku on November 11, is ongoing and will continue until November 22. During this time, international organizations have continued their calls to Azerbaijan regarding human rights issues.

One of the fundamental rights that must be upheld for internally displaced persons (IDPs) forced from their homes due to Armenian aggression is the right to housing. The right to housing is constitutionally granted to Azerbaijani citizens, and according to this key document, no one may be unlawfully deprived of their residence[1]. The Constitution also guarantees citizens the right to live in safety. However, the situation differs for citizens who have been forcibly displaced from Karabakh. Following the liberation of Karabakh from Armenian occupation, priority should have been given, under national legislation, to recognizing the housing (residential) rights of individuals previously residing in those territories (or, if deceased, their heirs). Unfortunately, this has not happened.

In the process of resettling the territories of Karabakh liberated from Armenian occupation, protecting the property rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is one of the most pressing issues. This involves ensuring the property rights of approximately 190,000 families (715,000 individuals), as enshrined in the country’s constitution, a fundamental human right universally recognized.