August 30 is marked as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Enforced disappearance is one of the gravest violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which not only directly violates the rights of the disappeared person, but also has long-lasting and severe consequences for their family members, causing them suffering and keeping them in a state of uncertainty. Proper documentation of cases of enforced disappearance, clarification of the fate and whereabouts of disappeared persons, as well as ensuring the right of their families to know the truth, are of particular importance within the framework of international law.
During the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, numerous Armenians have been subjected to enforced or involuntary disappearance. The fate and whereabouts of dozens of persons remain unknown to this day, while their families continue to await reliable and comprehensive information about their loved ones. This issue is one of the important areas of activity of the “International and Comparative Law Center.” The Center and its Director, Siranush Sahakyan, continuously work toward documenting the data of Armenian citizens who have been forcibly disappeared and submitting it to the relevant international bodies.
In particular, on August 18, 2023, the “International and Comparative Law Center” submitted a report to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, which included documented information concerning Armenians who were forcibly disappeared during the 44-day war of 2020. In accordance with the procedure established by the UN Working Group, the information presented in the report was transmitted to the Azerbaijani authorities with the aim of obtaining relevant clarifications.
In March 2024, on behalf of family members of missing persons, the Center submitted another report to the same UN Working Group, in which the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of eight persons were presented in detail. At a subsequent stage, the Center also submitted an additional communication, summarizing, in chronological order, the available information concerning the cases transmitted through the Working Group and the course of their proceedings.
Already in August 2026, the “International and Comparative Law Center” submitted a general communication to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances concerning the alleged enforced disappearances of Armenian servicemen and civilians by Azerbaijan in 2020-2023. The purpose of the communication is to document the recorded cases within the framework of the relevant international mechanism, raise the necessity of clarifying the fate and whereabouts of disappeared persons, and contribute to the realization of their families’ right to know the truth.
The Center and Siranush Sahakyan personally continue to maintain regular contact with family members of forcibly disappeared and missing persons, representing their rights and interests within the framework of relevant international mechanisms. The Center’s work is aimed at clarifying the fate and whereabouts of disappeared persons, protecting the rights of their families, and raising the need for an effective and proper investigation into each case of enforced disappearance.
Each case of enforced disappearance requires not only clarification of the fate of the disappeared person, but also ensuring their family’s right to know the truth.