HRC 52nd Session: High-level panel discussion on UPR Voluntary Funds: Achievements, good practices and lessons learned over the past 15 years and optimized support to States in the implementation of recommendations emanating from the fourth cycle

28 February, 2023

Delivered by H.E. Mr. Andranik Hovhannisyan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Armenia

President,

Armenia was part of the core group of the resolution 51/30 that mandated this high-level meeting. It is very much in line with the taskings of Call to Action of the Secretary General for strengthening “our platforms of cooperation to address human rights challenges utilizing the power and potential of the UPR”.

Last year Armenia was honored by the President of the HRC together with Morocco to co-facilitate consultations on the strengthening and optimizing of the UPR process. Speaking out of our own experience we can constitute that overwhelming majority of the UN member states and other stockholders reiterated their strong support to UPR as an effective and universal peer review mechanism for promotion and protection of human rights. They also elaborated on the need for increased technical cooperation and capacity-building for an effective implementation of UPR recommendations. Many encouraged contributions to the UPR voluntary funds, in particular with a view to support LDCs and SIDS. Indeed, the mere enumeration of what the Voluntary Funds have achieved throughout their 15 years of existence is remarkable and very much deserves a continued support.

During the discussions many delegations also expressed support to the voluntary practice of mid-term reports. Here, I am happy to inform that Armenia has just a week ago submitted its mid-term report.

Finally, Armenia would like to once again reiterate the importance of establishment of a Group of Friends of the UPR process. It will provide the HRC with continuity and enhanced institutional memory for dealing with the strengthening and optimizing of the UPR process.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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