Refugee Justice for the Armenian Women and Children of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)

The Armenian Relief Society, in collaboration with the Armenian Legal Center for Justice & Human Rights, held a side event during the 63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The discussion addressed the ongoing displacement of the Armenian people of Artsakh and their collective right to return to their ancestral homeland safely, voluntarily, with dignity, and without obstruction. Distinguished speakers examined the crisis through the interconnected lenses of fundamental human rights, international justice and accountability, property restitution, cultural and religious heritage protection, atrocity prevention, and the responsibility of the international community. Humanitarian assistance is essential, but it cannot replace justice. Displaced Armenians from Artsakh are not merely recipients of aid—they are rights-holders whose voices, property, heritage, identity, and future choices must be protected. For the Armenian Relief Society, “For the People, With the People” means continuing to stand with the families of Artsakh and advocating for lasting solutions grounded in rights, dignity, and meaningful participation. Displacement may remove people from their homes, but it must never remove them from the protection of their rights.