Since
2004 Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly South Caucasus (HCA Vanadzor,
HCA Ganja, HCA Georgian National Committee, HCA Azerbaijan National
Committee and “Helsinki Initiative ’92” organization
of Karabakh) implemented “Yellow Tulips” joint project
with Interchurch Peace Council (IKV, the Netherlands).
The goal of the project is:
Through
pressuring the national governments and through independent investigations
increase the level of information available on missing persons, thus
decreasing existing myths, that reinforce the enemy image; to improve
the position of and understanding for relatives of missing persons;
to contribute to a decrease of the number of new disappearances.
These are
the objectives of the project:
• Governments provide better support to relatives of missing
persons
• Governments in the South Caucasus cooperate on the issue of
missing persons
• More information is available on the circumstances of disappearances
• Myths about private prisons are circulating to a lesser extent
• There is more public attention in the South Caucasus for disappearances
and for the problems of relatives of missing persons
• The number of new disappearances has decreased
• People in risk area’s are well informed about the risks
and about their rights and possibilities in case of a hostage taking
situation.
In the result of the project law “On Missing Persons”
will be adopted, conferences on different aspects on the topic of
missing persons will be carried out, Commemoration yearly event in
all South Caucasus countries will be held, a research report will
be developed on opportunities in national and international legislation
to prevent and react to hostage taking.
