Azerbaijan calls for full social integration of land mine victims

In the course of a conference dedicated to the threat of land mines, an Azerbaijani official spoke out for more support for mine victims, highlighting that help has to go beyond medical assistance and rehabilitation, and that conditions must be created for their full integration into society.

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, Hidayat Abdullayev, made these remarks during a panel discussion held as part of the 4th International Mine Action Conference that is currently being held in Baku, as Caliber.Az reports, citing local media outlets. 

He said comprehensive mechanisms are needed to provide mine victims with social protection, vocational training, employment opportunities and economic independence.

According to the deputy minister, Azerbaijan’s main objective in addressing the mine threat is not limited to rehabilitating mine victims, but also includes creating conditions for them to return to independent lives and become fully integrated into society.

“Azerbaijan is implementing large-scale measures for the social protection, rehabilitation and reintegration into society of mine victims and people with disabilities resulting from the war. Mine contamination is one of the main factors preventing the safe return of people to their native lands and the reconstruction of the liberated territories. Therefore, alongside demining, medical, psychological and social rehabilitation of mine victims has also been identified as an important area,” Abdullayev said in the course of the conference.

The fourth edition of the event kicked off on September 2 in the Azerbaijani capital and focuses on the dangers of land mines as well as matters relating to their clearance. This year's conference is hosted under the title “Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of Excellence for Safe Settlements” and is being organised by Azerbaijan's state mine clearing agency ANAMA together with the local branch of the United Nations.

It has attracted more than 400 participants from 60 countries, including high-ranking officials from various governments, representatives of NGO's, such as UN bodies, as well as experts from other mine-clearing agencies. Diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan have also been invited to attend the event. 

By Nazrin Sadigova