A/HRC/53/62
context of the application of Armenia against Azerbaijan under the International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Court of Justice
reportedly unanimously indicated that Azerbaijan should take all necessary measures to
prevent the incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination, including by its
officials and public institutions, targeted at persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin.
67.
According to the information provided, in its recent concluding observations on
Azerbaijan, 4 the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed deep
concerns about: (a) allegations of severe and grave human rights violations committed during
the 2020 hostilities and beyond by Azerbaijani military forces against prisoners of war and
other protected persons of Armenian ethnic or national origin – including extrajudicial
killings, torture and other ill-treatment and arbitrary detention, as well as the destruction of
houses, schools and other civilian facilities; (b) reports on the destruction of and damage to
Armenian cultural heritage, including to churches and other places of worship, monuments,
landmarks, cemeteries and artefacts, and the lack of information on investigations carried out
into such allegations; (c) incitement to racial hatred and the propagation of racist stereotypes
against persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin, including on the Internet and social
media, as well as by public figures and government officials, and the lack of detailed
information on investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sanctions for such acts; and (d)
the lack of an independent and comprehensive mechanism to investigate such reports of
violations and to provide victims with redress and support.
68.
According to the information provided, the Committee recommended, inter alia, that
Azerbaijan adopt measures to monitor and combat hate speech, incitement and the promotion
of racial hatred and discrimination, including on the Internet and social media and by its
officials and public institutions, targeted at persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin,
and ensure that such incidents were effectively, thoroughly and impartially investigated and,
where appropriate, prosecuted and punished with penalties commensurate to the offences.
69.
The Committee also expressed concerns about reports that school textbooks in
Azerbaijan promoted prejudice and incited racial hatred, particularly against ethnic
Armenians, and that ethnic minorities were marginalized in history education in the State
party. According to the information provided, the Committee recommended that the State
party adopt measures to ensure that history was taught in such a way as to prevent a dominant
historical narrative and ethnic hierarchizing, while ensuring the effective and meaningful
participation of ethnic minorities.
70.
According to the information provided, hatred against Armenians is also manifested
through sport and the destruction and elimination of the cultural and religious heritage in the
territories under the control of Azerbaijan. In its most recent report on Azerbaijan, in 2016,
the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance reportedly highlighted that
political leaders, educational institutions and the media had continued to use hate speech
against Armenians and that an entire generation of Azerbaijanis had grown up listening to
that hateful rhetoric. The Commission reportedly issued a clear recommendation to the
authorities of Azerbaijan to ensure that public officials at all levels refrain from hate speech
towards Armenians.
Human Rights Program, University of Minnesota, United States of
America
71.
The Human Rights Program of the University of Minnesota, United States of
America, reported the infiltration of law enforcement agencies of the United States by
persons who espoused extremist ideologies. White supremacist and neo-Nazi organizations
in the United States have reportedly long attempted to insert their members into law
enforcement agencies or to recruit current and retired law enforcement personnel into their
ranks. The Federal Bureau of Investigation of the Government of the United States has stated
that the leading American neo-Nazi organization, the National Alliance, began targeting
members of law enforcement communities in its recruitment efforts at least as early as March
4
CERD/C/AZE/CO/10-12.
13