Page 59 - karabag raporu eng

On-Site Investigation Report on Human Rights in Karabakh

life, which is a fundamental human right, and the right to the environment
are discussed together. Likewise, in the Aarhus Convention on Access to In-
formation, Public Participation in Decision-Making, and Access to Justice in
Environmental Matters, it was recognised that adequate protection of the
environment is essential to human well-being and the enjoyment of basic
human rights, including the right to life itself.

The Stockholm and Rio Declarations are diplomatic conference declarations
and are not officially binding. However, both Declarations have principles
that reflect traditional international law and take a strong people-oriented
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approach .The Stockholm Declaration is seen as the foundation of interna-
tional environmental law.
Within the framework of the aforementioned issues, Armenia violated the
principles of international humanitarian law and human rights under envi-
ronmental law, with the damage it caused to nature in the lands it occupied.

V. Attack on Civilian Settlement

Tartar, which was under heavy attack during the Second Karabakh War that
lasted for 44 days, is a province where there is a civilian settlement. During
our field visit to Tartar, firstly, we saw numerous shrapnel traces on the trunk
of the tree opposite the Governor’s Office, located in the most central square
of the city, and on a pole a few metres away from the tree. Afterwards, we
visited the wreckage of a detached house, which was located approximately
5 minutes away from the aforementioned square (therefore, at a location
in the city centre) and on which missiles fell during the attacks. In the in-
terview with the owner of the house, it was learned that there was no loss
of life as there was no one in the house by chance. Officials stated that a
total of 16,277 missiles and mortars, including anti-tank, artillery, grad, and
banned missiles, fell on civilian settlements, and that among the targeted ci-
vilian settlements, there are 16 schools, collective or detached houses where
people live, and public institutions such as police and postal centres. They
expressed that as a result of the attacks, a total of 16 civilians, including
1 child and 1 woman, lost their lives in Tartar, and that 4 people were at a
funeral in the cemetery during the attack, while 4 people were injured in
the same attack. They pointed out that 5,949 detached houses, 106 vehicles,
544 cattle, and crop fields of 648 citizens were damaged. The extent of the
attacks can be seen in the photographs displayed on the billboards in the
city centre. These photographs show missiles falling on schools, even inside

20 https://legal.un.org/avl/ha/dunche/dunche.html

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