Visit to Nagorno Karabakh
00:00, April 21, 2009 | Press Release | The Rights of Conflict VictimsThe staff of the project “Formation of Young Peacebuilders’ Brigade” implemented by HCA Vanadzor visited Nagorno Karabakh on April 14-17. The goal of the visit was to meet with young peacebuilders in Karabakh to finalize the study of the conflict victims’ problems. Meetings were held with the families of missing persons and former prisoners of war.
“Conflict victims lack attention, communication, which, unfortunately, makes them aggressive. Therefore, it is important for us, already being aware of the situation, to work in order to take these people out of the ‘blockade’”- said Artur Sakunts, the coordinator of HCA Vanadzor, at the meeting with the young peacebuilders.
During the meeting with the families of missing persons, they raised such problems that did not get their solution in the past and they are still creating obstacles for them.
Uncertainty on the one hand and unfavorable social conditions on the other hand, made them hopeless and isolated them from society. The former prisoners of war are in the same situation. They also lack attention and need assistance from state.
The project staff visited the houses of missing persons’ families and former prisoners of war to get acquainted with their problems and registered them in special questionnaires.
The meeting with Vera Grigoryan, the head of the “Union of the relatives of missing freedom fighters of Nagorno Karabakh” was very significant. She united the relatives of missing soldiers and created a museum. It houses the photos of the soldiers, their details, belongings, weapons and letters sent from the front. She made documents for each missing soldier presenting the latest information about them.
The participants of the meeting discussed with her the problems of those families, the ways of solution and the role of state in the solution of those problems.
The project staff summarized and planned further activities and meetings.