Alumni of the Georgian Institute of Public Relations (GIPA) call for a response to the violation of children's rights by the Azerbaijani media. We present the statement below.

On the 12th of December, Azerbaijan blocked the only road connecting the Republic of Artsakh to the world. As a result 120,000 Armenians, 30,000 of which are children, have been deprived of their fundamental human rights for more than a month. Fuel, food, and medical supplies are dwindling. Children’s right to education is violated. People with health issues are in a dire state. 

Western media has mostly neglected this act of terrorism. 

On the 17th of January, Azerbaijani soldiers illegally stopped a bus containing 19 Armenian minors on their way to reunite with their families in Stepanakert. The Azerbaijanis humiliated and terrorized the children, one of which fainted. Then they spread the footage of the episode via Azerbaijani media platforms without concealing children’s faces. (1, 2, 3, 4)

As alumni of GIPA’s Multimedia Journalism, and Media Management Master’s program, we are appalled by the disrespect for journalistic ethics that demands the protection of minors and their rights to privacy and human dignity at all times. We have been taught to become the voice of those subjected to crimes against humanity, of those suffering from the inhumane acts of armed forces. 

We have been taught to stand by the oppressed and condemn criminal acts such as this one. Having studied “Media Ethics” taught by a visiting lecturer from the US and taking into account how much the lecturers of GIPA stressed the importance of ethics and respect for human dignity, we expect at least colleagues from the Department of Journalism and Media Management to express their professional opinion regarding this case. 

We urge GIPA to condemn this gross violation of journalistic ethics, bring attention to the 120 thousand besieged Armenians, and use its vast network to achieve a just response to Azerbaijan’s atrocious behavior. 

This is what the principles of objective, professional, and ethical journalism demand of us.

Hasmik Soghomonyan, 2014 Graduate

Rousan Safaryan, 2013 Graduate

Lilit Nurijanyan, 2013 Graduate

Nune Aylanjyan, 2012 Graduate

Ruzan Gishyan, 2014 Graduate

Hovhannes Hakobyan, 2021 Graduate 

Hovhannes Ishkhanyan, 2014 Graduate

Astghik Gaudyan, 2021 Graduate

Ani Gabrielyan, 2014 Graduate

Hasmik Hayrapetyan, 2015 Graduate

Gayane Simonyan, 2014 Graduate 

Ani Torosyan, 2021 Graduate

Suzanne Ghukasyan, 2021 Graduate

Parandzem Hovhannisyan, 2013 Graduate

Ani Mejlumyan, 2014 Graduate

Marianna Pepanyan, 2010 Graduate

Lilit Kochinyan, 2015 Graduate

Anushik Avetyan, 2015 Graduate 

Kristine Khanoyan, 2022 Graduate 

Ani Nazaryan, 2020 Graduate

Anna Hakobyan, 2020 Graduate

Suren Deheryan, 2004 Graduate

Aghavni Harutyunyan, 2004 Graduate

Mane Grigoryan, 2007 Graduate

Vahagn Antonyan, 2009 Graduate

Karen Meliksetyan, 2009 Graduate

Gayane Lalayan, 2008 Graduate

Mariam Grigoryan, 2021 Graduate

Emma Petrosyan, 2016 Graduate

Gayane Aprunts, 2016 Graduate

Gayane Mirzoyan, 2005 Graduate

Anahit Minasyan, 2005 Graduate