Azerbaijan pushes global action on missing persons through UN declaration photo

The memorandum and the declaration annexed to it, submitted by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, have been officially published as documents of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.

According to domestic media, the document states that on December 8, 2025, Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Tofig Musayev, sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General presenting the declaration adopted at an international conference in Baku devoted to uniting efforts and strengthening cooperation to address the issue of missing persons.

The conference was held in Baku from October 9 to 11, 2025, and brought together representatives of various countries and international organisations. The event focused on discussing the problem of missing persons in the context of international humanitarian law and human rights.

The declaration expresses serious concern over the growing number of missing persons as a result of armed conflicts and reaffirms the right of families to know the fate of their loved ones. The document underscores the importance of states’ respect for international humanitarian law and human rights.

In addition, the parties call for all possible measures to be taken to prevent disappearances during armed conflicts and to provide information on the fate of missing persons. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that landmines and unexploded ordnance may pose obstacles to the identification of missing persons.

The document proposes strengthening cooperation among states, as well as international and non-governmental organisations, to address the issue of missing persons, exchange best practices, and make use of forensic examinations and new technologies.

The letter and the annexed declaration were circulated as official documents of the UN General Assembly under the agenda items “Prevention of Armed Conflict,” “Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,” “Ending Racism and Discrimination,” and "Rule of Law.”

By Tamilla Hasanova