HRC 51st Session: Item 8: Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action: Delivered by Ms. Armine Petrosyan, Second Secretary

30 September, 2022

President,

We recall that the World Conference on Human Rights expressed its deep concern about violations of human rights during armed conflicts, affecting the civilian population, especially women, children, the elderly and the disabled. The UN Human Rights machinery should pay a particular attention to the violations of human rights during the armed conflicts, especially since it is the vulnerable groups that are suffering the most.

The international human rights law and international humanitarian law are complementary and mutually reinforcing. Their full adherence and respect are of utmost importance. Such crimes as extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, torture and other types of ill treatment, destruction of cultural and religious heritage should be fully addressed and the accountability should be ensured. The peace and security may be built only on the premises of justice and accountability.

The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action stipulated that the efforts of the UN towards the universal observance for human rights for all contribute to the stability and well-being necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations. It is our conviction that the democratization of the regions that are especially prone to conflicts is an essential factor for the peacebuilding.

Armenia, despite the existing security challenges it has been facing in recent years, never stepped back from its strategic visions towards strengthening the democracy by undergoing fundamental reforms in this direction. Armenia’s progress, its democratic achievements, have been acknowledged by many international well-known watchdogs in this field. Let me just bring a few examples. According to British “Economist Intelligence Unit” research company and Swedish Varieties of Democracy Institute Armenia is the most democratic nation in the region. Armenia is ranked 11^th among 165 countries in the Economic Freedom of the World report by the Canadian think tank Fraser Institute. The Freedom House referred to Armenia as a country that registered largest two-year improvement ever recorded in Nations in Transit.

I thank you.

MFA RA
official website

Dual citizenship

Electronic visa

Visa applications