International day of victims of enforced disappearances marked worldwide

Every year on August 30, the world observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, or the International Day of the Disappeared, a day dedicated to remembering those who have gone missing due to war, violence, migration, and natural disasters.

In Azerbaijan, the commemoration carries particular weight. Despite the formal end of the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict, more than 3,000 Azerbaijani citizens captured or taken hostage during hostilities remain unaccounted for. According to officials, many of the missing were subjected to torture and inhumane treatment, with some dying in captivity. Their remains have not yet been returned to their families.

International law obliges states to investigate such cases, prosecute perpetrators, prevent future violations, and safeguard the rights of victims' families. Azerbaijani authorities stress that Armenia has grossly violated these obligations, while Baku continues efforts to establish the fate of its missing citizens.

The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons leads the country’s search and repatriation efforts, coordinating with civil society and international partners. As of June 1, 2025, official figures list 3,990 Azerbaijani citizens still missing. Of these, 3,984 disappeared during the first Karabakh war in the early 1990s, and six during the 44-day conflict in 2020. The missing include 3,211 military personnel and 779 civilians—among them 71 children, 284 women, and 316 elderly people.

Azerbaijan has also raised the issue at the international level. Every two years, the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution on missing persons at Azerbaijan’s initiative, and Baku has spearheaded a resolution at the UN Commission on the Status of Women calling for the release of women and children taken hostage in armed conflicts.

Officials and families of the missing continue to call for accountability and transparency, urging the international community to intensify efforts to uncover the fate of those who disappeared—many of them more than three decades ago.

By Sabina Mammadli