Azerbaijan stated at the UN about the necessity to clarify the fate of 71 missing children

Azerbaijan declared at the UN the necessity of international cooperation to determine the fate and whereabouts of 71 children among more than 4,000 people who went missing in the early 1990s.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Report, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN Shahriyar Hajiyev emphasized at the meeting of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly that the fate of these children remains one of the pressing humanitarian issues for the country in the post-conflict period.

He also noted that mine contamination remains another serious threat. According to him, since the 1990s, mines have caused the deaths and severe injuries of more than 3,400 people, including children and young people.

Hajiyev reported that under the "Great Return" program, nearly 4,000 students were given the opportunity to study in educational institutions in the 2026–2027 academic year following the return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands.

The representative of Azerbaijan also noted that in 2026, the country adopted a new law "On the Rights of the Child," aimed at strengthening child protection mechanisms and bringing national legislation into compliance with international standards.

According to him, children make up nearly 30% of Azerbaijan's population, and their protection and development are among the priorities of the state's social policy.