Statement delivered by the delegation of Armenia during the adoption of the HRC Resolution “Combating intolerance based on religion or belief”

24 March, 2021

HRC 46^th Session: A/HRC/46/L.3

Explanation of vote before the vote on the draft Resolution “Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, person based on religion or belief”

Delivered by H.E. Andranik HOVHANNISYAN, Permanent Representative

President,

In the spirit of shared values and enhanced cooperation harbored by the United Nations and, in particular, by this august Council, Armenia joined the consensus on the draft resolution entitled Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief. We find both the subject and content of this resolution extremely important for the global multilateral cooperation, especially at this juncture, when we are all still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latter has prevented us from meeting physically and impaired our opportunities to discuss facilitation and encouragement of the implementation of the HRC resolution 16/18. Armenia communicated a year ago to all interested parties its concerns about the arbitrary manner of the selection of States for participation in the meetings conducted under the general rubric of the so-called Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Incitement to Hatred and/or Violence on the Basis of Religion or Belief.

In this context, Armenia emphasizes that if it is a UN mandated and supported universal process, it must be open for participation to all UN member States without any discrimination. Armenia finds it extremely awkward that we even need to voice such a concern about a process that was meant to promote interreligious, intercultural and interfaith harmony and combat intolerance, discrimination, hostility and incitement to hatred and/or violence.

The draft resolution in front of us contains two references to this process both in preambular and operational parts. Armenia will assess validity of this whole resolution vis-à-vis the reaction to the concerns we voiced. Therefore, Armenia reserves the right to come back to this issue at the next cycle.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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