Law 18:36 11/06/2015

Scandal around UNICEF lending its name to European Games in Azerbaijan, country accused of torturing young people

The goal of the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is to protect the rights of children. Yet UNICEF is lending its name to the European Games in Azerbaijan, a country accused of torturing young people struggling for their rights, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) writes citing TT News Agency, Sweden.

It is pointed out in the article that alongside sponsors like BP, Coca-Cola and various Azerbaijani companies, UNICEF is listed as the Games' “Official Child Rights Organization.”

According to the article, Robert Hårdh, director of the human rights organization Civil Rights Defenders, is appalled. “I don’t understand how UNICEF can lend its name to something that is so clearly a part of the propaganda of the dictatorial regime in Azerbaijan,” he said in a written statement.

Human Rights Watch spokesman Andrew Stroehlein added that even though UNICEF works in many countries with dubious human rights records - that may well be necessary to deliver services on the ground in these places - this kind of collaboration on a mega-sporting event seems to be something else entirely. “The regime is obviously keen to partner and use the good name of UNICEF to whitewash its appalling reputation abroad in the same way it is using the Games generally. Now that this is a done deal, we can only hope UNICEF will raise in public and in private the issue of Azerbaijan's political prisoners and push for their release,” he said.

According to the report, in 2014, Sweden gave US$ 170 million to UNICEF. That makes it the fifth biggest donor to the UN agency. “We hardly want our tax money going to a dictatorship’s propaganda and repression,” Hårdh stated. Ulrika Modéer, Sweden’s assistant minister for foreign aid, said that it is a cause for concern if UNICEF lends its name to a context which is against the organization's overall goals, and Sweden is likely to address the issue with the UN agency.

Elisabeth Löfgren, press officer at Amnesty International in Sweden, points out that nine representatives of Nida, an organization fighting for the rights of young people, have been imprisoned since 2013. Several of them have reportedly been tortured. “UNICEF doesn’t say anything about that,” Löfgren told TT.

As for the inclusion of the most excluded children, Hårdh notes that the beautiful new sports stadiums will only benefit the children of rich parents. “And you won’t get rich in Azerbaijan if you criticize the regime, because then you end up in jail. UNICEF’s partnership with the Azeri regime hardly includes any support for the families of oppositional figures and human rights defenders who are suffering from the repressive policies of the Aliyev regime,” he stressed.

On 12-28 June, Baku will host the first European Games under the auspices of the European Olympic Committee. According to media estimates, the Games will cost the Azerbaijani population $10 billion. However, they have become a serious headache for the locals with numerous bans and demolition of property. The preparatory works for the Games are accompanied by crackdowns and brutal repressions against dissent.

Related:

British journalist is deported from Baku and Amnesty International is denied entry to Azerbaijan 

RTVi: Baku hosts glamour festivals to assert itself on world stage with European sports officials deaf to criticism 

The Guardian: EOC's stance about disastrous situation in Azerbaijan is pathetic 

Azerbaijani citizens say government arranges EuroGames for foreigners without thinking about locals who barely make ends meet 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:12
Armenia to face Georgia in Nations League play-off
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off ties have been confirmed following the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday....
16:36
Hayk Marutyan agrees to debate with Tigran Avinyan
New Power party leader Hayk Marutyan has agreed to a TV debate with incumbent Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan. Marutyan, a former Yerevan...
15:45
Opposition politician: Pashinyan leading Armenia to 'final collapse'
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration is leading Armenia to the “final collapse” and Turkification, opposition...
15:05
Caretaker deputy justice minister sacked
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signed a decree to dismiss Armenuhi Harutyunyan as Acting Deputy Minister of Justice....
14:35
Armenian parliament speaker confirms MP's resignation
National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has issued a statement on the resignation of Narek Zeynalyan as an MP from Armenia’s ruling Civil...
14:06
Visa restricts media access to key event in Yerevan
Visa has restricted the media access to the Cashless Forum 2024 to be held in Yerevan for the first time on November 22. Only...
13:36
Orban says he will invite Netanyahu to Hungary after ICC warrant
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, saying he would guarantee...
13:11
Temps to plummet in Armenia
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Friday and over the weekend. Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
12:32
Alexis Ohanian showcases rare Armenian coin
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has showcased a rare Armenian coin from 95 BC featuring Tigranes the Great, a famous Armenian king....
12:16
German foreign minister criticizes Azerbaijan's human rights record
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the human rights record of Azerbaijan during her first appearance at the UN Climate Change...
12:06
Minister shares new images captured by Armenia's first satellite
Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has shared new satellite images from orbit captured by ARMSAT-1,...
11:36
World Cadet Chess Championship passes its halfway mark
The 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship has passed its halfway mark in Montesilvano, Italy. After 6 rounds, in the Open 12 category CM...
11:15
Iran to launch 'new and advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure
Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the IAEA that...
11:00
Armenian, Iranian foreign ministers hold phone call
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi....
17:07
Winter military draft starts in Armenia on November 25
The winter conscription for compulsory military service starts in Armenia on November 25 to run through January 31, 2025. The...
16:45
Russian spokeswoman told not to comment on ballistic missile strike live on air
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing on Thursday telling her not to...
16:33
Belgian politicians call for immediate release of all Armenian prisoners held in Baku
In the backdrop of the COP29 currently taking place in Baku 20 members of the Belgian Federal Parliament, the Flemish Parliament, the Walloon...
16:06
Armenia thwarts large-scale drug smuggling attempt
Officers of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) have foiled an attempt to smuggle some 1,600 grams of cocaine into the country as part...
15:33
Armenian government reduces financial aid for Artsakh refugees
The Armenian government on Thursday approved a decision to reduce financial aid for the displaced Artsakh Armenians. Starting from...
14:45
Percival Everett wins National Book Award
Percival Everett has won the $10,000 National Book Award for fiction, one of the US’s most prestigious literary prizes, for James, his...
14:35
Pyunik v West Armenia match canceled
An Armenian Premier League match between FC Pyunik and West Armenia has been canceled. The 17th round match was scheduled for November 21....
14:06
Armenian Foreign Ministry denies cooperation with Azerbaijan on water management
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has denied claims of cooperation with Azerbaijan on transboundary water resources management. In a social...
13:36
No rain in sight for rest of the week
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions from Thursday to Sunday.  Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
13:06
Pashinyan thanks dismissed officials for cooperation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the dismissed top government officials for joint work and wished good luck to...
12:36
Armenian church marks Presentation of Virgin Mary
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, November 21. According to tradition,...
12:15
Luxembourg's parliament demands immediate release of all unlawfully imprisoned persons in Azerbaijan
Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies has adopted a resolution condemning the Azerbaijani government’s sanctions against the freedom of...
12:00
Davit Khudatyan appointed minister of territorial administration
Armavir Governor Davit Khudatyan has been appointed Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. Armenian President Vahagn...
11:45
Australia launches bill to ban social media for children under 16
Australia's centre-left government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and...
11:30
Armenia's Andranik Avetisyan wins gold at World Military Wrestling Championships
The 37th World Military Wrestling Championships kicked off in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday, bringing together 400 participants...
11:10
Leopard missing for two years spotted in Armenia's Tavush
A leopard, that lost its front paw and disappered from Armenia's Vayots Dzor Province in December 2022, has been spotted in...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}