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Executive Director of the «Front Line Defenders» Andrew Anderson replied to the President of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) Umud Mirzayev. 
 
Yesterday, IEPF President addressed to Andrew Anderson, Executive Director of the «Front Line Defenders», the organization founded in Dublin in 2001 with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk (HRDs). 
 
In his letter, he spoke about the realities of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a result of which 20% of the Azerbaijani lands, including Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 adjacent regions, are under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces. He also explained the situation with refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan and called for the need to pay more attention to protecting the rights of these people who, for more than 25 years, cannot return back to their homes. In a country where each eighth person is a refugee or an IDP, human rights defenders should first and foremost speak about the rights of these people.
 
The full version of the appeal is available here.
 
In response to this letter, Andrew Anderson agreed with Umud Mirzaev that international human rights organizations did not really pay enough attention to the conflict and protection of the rights of internally displaced persons. He stressed the importance of this issue and expressed a desire to visit Azerbaijan for a better understanding of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 
 
“Dear Umud,
 
Many thanks for your email. It was indeed a pleasure to meet you in Qatar and to learn a little more about Azerbaijan.
 
As we discussed I do agree with you that the international human rights organizations have not really paid enough attention to the conflict and to the rights of those displaced. It is good that you highlight this issue.
 
Front Line Defenders is focused on the situation of human rights defenders working at the local and national level rather than the broader human rights concerns. If there was a suggestion that human rights defenders were being prevented from working on behalf of the rights of IDPs this would be an issue we would take up. We do not have the capacity or expertise to take up ourselves the situation of the IDPs even if I agree that this is a situation that needs more international attention.
 
Different human rights defenders work on different issues. Focusing on one specific issue can be more effective. The important thing is that human rights defenders should be able to operate freely, that the rights to freedom of association and expression be respected. In these conditions there can be an open discussion about priorities and who is working on what. You will understand that human rights defenders are accused of being politicised in many countries, but that it is usually just a strategy by the authorities to deflect legitimate criticism. And indeed the right to advocate peacefully for things that are not popular is also important.
 
I would very much like to have the opportunity to come to Azerbaijan and to meet with human rights defenders and others. If I am able to come I will certainly be in touch because I would personally like to better understand the situation of Karabakh.
 
With best wishes,
 
Andrew”
 
Note that Andrew Anderson became the second Executive Director of Front Line Defenders in November 2016.  He previously served as Deputy Director since March 2003. Prior to joining Front Line Defenders, Andrew worked for thirteen years at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International where he was Director of the Campaigning and Crisis Response Programme and then Director of the Africa Programme. Andrew was a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Applied Human Rights at the University of York and the Board of Trustees of the Tactical Technology Collective (www.tacticaltech.org) and continues ot serve on the Board of Trustees of the Sudan Social Development Organisation UK (www.sudouk.org). He represents Front Line Defenders on the Board of the EU Human Rights Defenders Mechanism.