Armenia’s participation to the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council

24 July, 2023

The 53^rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) took place in Geneva from June 19 to July 14, 2023. Interactive dialogues and panel discussions focused on the pivotal issues such as the prevention of genocide, rights of women and girls, issues related to the freedom of speech and assembly, rights of migrants and internally displayed persons, violations of human rights in the context of climate change. The Council discussed also issues related to the right to education, trafficking and fight against extrajudicial killings, as well as specific situations with human rights in various states.

Under the agenda item 2 of the HCR’s 53^rd session, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Volker Türk presented a global update on the situation with the human rights in the world. Among other pertinent issues he addressed the situation in the South Caucasus. He called upon Armenia and Azerbaijan to anchor peace efforts in the human rights and underlined the importance of free and safe movement through the Lachin Corridor and the need to avoid any humanitarian impact on civilians. He underscored the significance of the UN engagement access to conflict areas that would enable to conduct human rights assessments and address people's needs on the ground.

The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Ms. Alice Nderitu also called for dialogue and peace, and to avoid any escalation of tensions. Based on the binding Order of the International Court of Justice she reiterated calls made to promote free and safe movement through the Lachin corridor.

During the interactive dialogue with her participation, the Permanent Mission of Armenia initiated a joint statement which was co-sponsored by 44 member states from all UN regional groups. The joint statement was dedicated to the 75^th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocides. It was delivered by the Permanent Representative of Armenia H.E. Andranik Hovhannisian. Among other issues, the joint statement emphasized that drawing the world’s attention to situations at risk of atrocity crimes requires follow-up actions and coordinated efforts in order truly to make prevention work.

The situation in Nagorno Karabakh and discrimination against Armenians were reflected also in the report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

In the framework of the 53^rd session of HRC, the Permanent Mission of Armenia organized an exhibition dedicated to the 105^th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia. The exhibition was entitled “Women in State-building”. Presented were the exhibits which highlighted the role of women in Armenia’s social, political, religious, cultural, and education life during the First Republic as well as in other historical periods.

Opening speeches were delivered by the Permanent Representative of Armenia, Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisian, Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director of the UN Library and Archives Mr. Francesco Pisano.

In the framework of the HRC, Armenia together with a number of states and other stakeholders co-sponsored three side events: “Strengthening the Right to Free Education: From Pre-Primary to Secondary”; “Women’s Leadership and Political Participation”; and “The Role of the Legal Professions in the Implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).”

Permanent Representative Andranik Hovhannisian was one of the speakers on the panel of “Women’s Leadership and Political Participation” event. He spoke, in particular, on the best practices Armenia has established in this area.

During the session, the Permanent Mission of Armenia made 35 statements and exercised rights of replies and co-sponsored 12 joint statements.

The Permanent Mission of Armenia in its statements raised the issue of blockade by Azerbaijan of the Lachin Corridor, disruption of gas and energy supplies to Nagorno Karabakh, noncompliance of Azerbaijan with the interim measures adopted by the International Court of Justice, including the one on the unimpeded movement on the Lachin Corridor, gross violations by Azerbaijan of human rights and international humanitarian law in Artsakh and border areas of Armenia. Attention of the UN member states and structures was invited to the issues related to the prisoners of war and civilians captured during Azerbaijan’s war against NK and afterwards, as well as in the course of Azerbaijan’s invasion of Armenia’s sovereign territory, extrajudicial killings carried out by Azerbaijan, forced disappearances, missing persons, obstruction of the international structures’ entry to Artsakh, violations of the rights of the forcibly displaced persons, racist and discriminatory policies against Armenians and incitement to hatred. The Armenian side also dwelled upon the human rights violations in Azerbaijan, persecution and killings of human rights activists, extreme manifestations of Armenophobia.

Statements of the Permanent Mission of Armenia reflected also on Armenia’s best practices and achievements in strengthening democracy in Armenia, including freedom of speech and assembly, initiatives aimed at the reduction of poverty and sustainable development. Armenia has presented also a number of inquiries to Special Rapporteurs on the issues covered by their mandates.

During the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions the Human Rights Defender of Armenia Ms. Anahit Manasyan made a statement on the Armenian prisoners of war and civilians detained by Azerbaijan.

The Permanent Mission of Armenia circulated two Government Communications as HRC official documents on the topic of the 31^st anniversary of the Armenian massacres in Maragha carried out by Azerbaijan on April 10, 1992 and on the illegal installment by Azerbaijan of a checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor.

During the 53^rd session of the Human Rights Council, Armenia co-sponsored a number of important resolutions, including on ITT and human rights, negative impact of corruption on human rights, extrajudicial killings, extension of special mandates on fight against extreme poverty, civil society, human rights and climate change, etc.

The next session of HRC will take place in September, 2023.

Details on Armenia’s participation to previous session of HRC, as well as statements made by the RA Permanent Mission are available at https://switzerland.mfa.am/en/news/.

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