- November 12, 2024
Washington, D.C. – The UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has rejected Azerbaijan’s objections and ruled it has jurisdiction for acts of hate and violence against ethnic Armenians. The case moves forward.
In September 2021, Armenia instituted proceedings under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) following Azerbaijan’s brutal 2020 assault on Nagorno-Karabakh. In its Application, Armenia alleges that Azerbaijan has breached several provisions of CERD by a decades-long State policy of racial discrimination. Specifically, Armenia asserts that, as a result of this State-sponsored policy of Armenian hatred, Armenians have been subjected to systemic discrimination, mass killings, torture, and other abuse. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties to CERD.
“There is overwhelming evidence that Azerbaijan, and its leader Ilham Aliyev, sponsored hate and committed systemic violence and atrocities against ethnic Armenians,” said Global ARM President Timothy Jemal. “It’s important this case move forward and that justice is served.”
In its ruling, the ICJ noted Azerbaijan did not object that it has glorified hate and violence against Armenians:
“With respect to Armenia’s claimed evidence regarding generalized anti-Armenian animus, the Court notes that it has previously acknowledged that rhetoric promoting racial hatred and incitement to racial discrimination can generate a pervasive racially charged environment, particularly when employed by high-ranking officials of the State, and increase the risk of bodily harm to members of the protected group. The Court notes that Azerbaijan has not objected to the Court’s jurisdiction in respect of Armenia’s claims relating to its alleged glorification of racially motivated violence or hate speech against ethnic Armenians. “
The complete ruling can be read here: 11.12.24 ICJ Ruling.
About Global ARM: Global ARM is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization formed in 2022 to implement smarter, stronger and more effective Pro-Armenia, Pro-Artsakh lobbying in Washington, D.C. Global ARM is non-partisan and not aligned with any political party or government inside or outside of Armenia.