HRC 54th Session: Item 3 - Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation - Embassy of Armenia to Switzerland and Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN office at Geneva

HRC 54th Session: Item 3 - Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation

14 September, 2023

Delivered by Ms. Nelli Petrosyan, Human Rights Officer

Mr. President,

Armenia thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report.

We agree with the SR that restoration of good condition of the aquatic ecosystems is essential for securing the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. We further share his view that when water is used as a war strategy the available flows in nearby ecosystems are not accessible to populations.

In this context, the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as well as the right to health of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are being grossly violated as a result of Azerbaijan's nine-months-long blockade of the Lachin corridor. Due to the disruption of energy supplies the population in Nagorno-Karabakh receives three times less drinking water than prior to the blockade. Communities lacking access to drinking water have no alternative choice but to utilize untreated water from nearby rivers or streams, posing risk of spreading infections. In addition, due to the drinking water problems, the incidence of intestinal infections, especially among children, has already increased by about 60%.

The human rights violations steaming from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor should receive an adequate attention.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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