Azerbaijan’s Gilavar Photo Club Public Union has opened a photo exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland, in front of the symbolic “Broken Chair” monument, which embodies the suffering of people affected by all forms of armed violence, at the Place des Nations, where the UN Office at Geneva is located, the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations told APA.
The exhibition features documentary photographs depicting the life stories of Azerbaijanis affected by Armenia’s mine warfare and the severe consequences of mine explosions.
In addition, foreign visitors viewing the stands in Geneva were introduced to images depicting the vandalism and destruction committed by Armenia on Azerbaijani lands during the 30-year occupation, as well as images of the new life and revival created by the Azerbaijani state in those territories.
Head of the Gilavar Photo Club Rashad Mehdiyev said that these photographs call on the international community to mobilize for the declaration of a “mine-free world” as the UN’s 18th Sustainable Development Goal, noting that 60 million people around the world are still at risk from mines and that Azerbaijan is among the countries most affected by mines. Armenia, which kept part of Azerbaijan’s territory under occupation for many years, planted more than 1.5 million mines in these territories, while the area was also heavily contaminated with other explosive ordnance. Armenia’s objective was to wage war against Azerbaijan’s civilian population. The mines, including booby traps, discovered in settlements, cemeteries and other locations in the liberated territories are evidence of this, and even the areas around a number of discovered mass graves were mined. Mines were planted for people visiting these places and trying to find the remains of their loved ones after years of longing. This should be regarded as a crime against humanity.
Visitors to the exhibition were informed that despite all appeals, Armenia has not provided accurate information or maps of mined areas. The fact that the overwhelming majority of mine incidents have occurred outside the areas indicated on the maps provided also proves that most of these maps are false and unreliable. Such activity does not serve peace in any way. Following the 44-day war in 2020, the overwhelming majority of those killed in mine incidents in Azerbaijan have been civilians. It was also noted that the mine issue has today become one of Azerbaijan’s biggest problems. Following 30 years of looting and destruction by Armenia, the Azerbaijani state is carrying out large-scale restoration and reconstruction work in the liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur regions and returning former displaced persons to their homes. However, the mine threat is a serious obstacle to this process and poses a danger to the lives and health of citizens. Vast mined areas in Karabakh and East Zangezur also cause significant damage to ecology, the environment and agriculture.
Those who viewed the exhibition expressed their hope that Karabakh and East Zangezur would be declared mine-free regions in the near future.
The Azerbaijani NGO will continue its international campaign in other European countries to have a “mine-free world” declared as the UN’s 18th Sustainable Development Goal.
Gilavar Photo Club is a 2026 winner of the “Initiatives on the Problem of Mines and Unexploded Ordnance” grant competition jointly announced by Azerbaijan’s NGO Agency and the Karabakh Revival Fund.
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