BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 7. Full and
harmonious development of a child in the spirit of peace, dignity,
tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity is a prerequisite for
sustainable and prosperous societies, First Secretary of the
Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Shahriyar
Hajiyev said at the Third Committee of the eighty-first session of
the United Nations General Assembly under agenda item 66: Promotion
and protection of the rights of children.
"Special care and assistance, which the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights recognises as entitlements for children, should be
understood and implemented comprehensively through the provision of
healthcare and social protection services, as well as quality
education. Creating equal opportunities for children is also
indispensable to achieving better results in their social and
economic development.
Full and harmonious development of a child in the spirit of
peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity is a
prerequisite for sustainable and prosperous societies. Thus,
children and young people are recognised as critical agents of
positive change in the Pact for the Future.
In Azerbaijan, children comprise nearly 30 per cent of the
population. The protection and development of children and ensuring
their full enjoyment of human rights play a crucial role in the
social policy of the state.
The policy programme “National Strategy on Children for
2020-2030”, approved by the President of Azerbaijan, identifies key
issues and outlines strategies to address challenges related to the
protection and development of children. Particular emphasis is
placed on children from vulnerable groups, including those deprived
of parental care, those with health issues and those from
conflict-affected families.
At the same time, a new law on the “Rights of a child” was
adopted in 2026, addressing contemporary challenges, strengthening
protection mechanisms, and further aligning the normative framework
with international standards. The Law sets out general objectives
and obligations of the state, guarantees to ensure the best
interests of a child and an extensive list of rights and freedoms.
The new normative basis fully reflects the commitments under the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Azerbaijan also prioritises the protection and development of
children in the post-conflict period. Following rehabilitation and
reconstruction efforts, forcibly displaced persons, including
children, are returning to their places of origin. The Great Return
Programme has enabled nearly 4,000 pupils to study in educational
facilities for the academic year 2026-2027.
The fate and whereabouts of 71 children among the over 4,000
persons who went missing in the early 1990s remain a pressing
humanitarian concern for Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period. At
the same time, extensive mine contamination is another problem
threatening lives, including children. Since the 1990s, the
deliberately planted mines have claimed the lives of and seriously
injured more than 3,400 persons, including children and young
persons. These humanitarian concerns require enhanced international
cooperation in addition to national measures taken.
To conclude, Azerbaijan reiterates its firm commitment to
ensuring quality healthcare and education services, as well as
maintaining an enabling environment for the development of children
at every stage from birth to adolescence," Shahriyar Hajiyev
said.
