46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

25 March, 2021

46^th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) was held in Geneva from the 22^nd of February to the 24^th of March 2021. Due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time ever the HRC session was held in entirely remote mode, in online format. For the first time in the UN history remote electronic voting was conducted to adopt the HRC resolutions.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, His Excellency Ara Aivazian participated in the High Level Segment of the session. Minister Aivazian reflected upon the first year of Armenia’s membership in the HRC noting the principled position and efforts exerted in the areas of genocide prevention, countering impunity for the crimes against humanity and hate speech as well as a number of other pertinent issues related to the agenda of promotion and protection of human rights. Referring to the war launched against Artsakh, Minister highlighted among other things the crimes perpetrated by Azerbaijan against peaceful civilian population, touched upon the involvement and assistance extended by Turkey and the use of foreign terrorist fighters. Minister stressed the ongoing crimes committed after the ceasefire, including the torture and ill treatment of prisoners of war and civilians, destruction of the Armenian religious and cultural heritage and other gross violations of international law committed by Azerbaijan. Minister stated that the plea for justice and peace for the people of Artsakh must be urgently addressed. The people who fought for their right to live, right to determine their future free of coercion and occupation at this very moment continue to face existential threat in the land of their ancestors.

The issues of fight against racism and xenophobia, torture and inhuman treatment, human rights of persons with disabilities, child rights protection, abolition of death penalty and a number of other topics were on the agenda of the HRC. Religious freedoms, cultural and environmental rights in the context of COVID-19 were also discussed. A number of interactive dialogues were dedicated to the country-specific human rights situations.

On 26 February Her Excellency Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under Agenda item 2 of the HRC. She noted, in particular that she continued to exert efforts for her office to be granted an access to Nagorno Karabakh. She stressed that all violations of international law must be investigated, the perpetrators must be held accountable, and the redress should be provided to victims. The High Commissioner also stressed that all captured or detained persons should be treated humanely, and benefit from the protections of international law.

During the General Debate that followed High Commissioner’s statement Armenia and a number of other countries raised the issue of protection of rights of prisoners of war and civilian hostages of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The issue was raised by Portugal who spoke on behalf of 27 member states of the European Union as well as North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein and Armenia – overall 34 states. A number of other countries touched upon the issue of detainees in their national statements.

Armenia co-sponsored 6 resolutions and aligned with 11 joint statements dedicated to the pertinent issues of human rights protection.

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the UN Office in Geneva delivered 53 statements, elaborating on the priorities of our country in protection and promotion of human rights. During general debates and interactive dialogues the Armenian side highlighted the war crimes, flagrant violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated by Azerbaijan, in particular its noncompliance with the obligations on humane treatment of prisoners of war and civilian captives, targeted destruction of the indigenous Armenian religious and cultural heritage, the impediments it creates for the access of international structures to Artsakh, as well as breaches of the right to voluntary return in safety and dignity of the displaced population and incitement to racism, discrimination and hatred towards Armenians. Armenia dwelled upon the involvement of Turkey in the war against Artsakh and the use of the foreign terrorist mercenaries. Likewise, Armenia elaborated on the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, prosecutions and killings of human rights defenders as well as extreme manifestations of Armenophobia in Azerbaijan.

Armenia reiterated the commitment on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship based upon the respect of human rights, including the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh. Permanent Mission of Armenia circulated Note Verbales, memos and reports on the above-mentioned issues in the framework of HRC.

The next, 47th regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to take place in June-July 2021.

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