Statement of the Delegation of Armenia during the Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education

24 June, 2021

HRC 47^thSession: Item 3: Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education

Delivered by Arsen Kotanjyan

President,

Armenia conures with the Special Rapporteur that educational institutions are essential to resist violence and discrimination, and to create peace and they must not be misused for division, propaganda and contempt. We further agree that education should promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and further the activities of the UN for the maintenance of peace.

Hence, it is regrettable that Azerbaijan exploits education to cultivate anti-Armenian hatred. As the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance reported (I quote) “Political leaders, educational institutions and media have continued using hate speech against Armenians; an entire generation of Azerbaijanis has now grown up listening to this hateful rhetoric”.

The textbooks in Azerbaijan read that Armenians are “genetic enemies”. A video on social network featured a teacher in Baku preschool who taught the kids that the Armenians are their enemies, while another Azerbaijani teacher was fired from school after calling for peace with Armenia.

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in its concluding observations on the reports of Azerbaijan expressed concern at the repeated and unpunished use of inflammatory languages regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

It is this generation raised in extreme hatred that perpetrated despicable atrocities against Armenians during the recent war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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