HRC 54th Session: Item 3 - ID with Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons - Embassy of Armenia to Switzerland and Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN office at Geneva

HRC 54th Session: Item 3 - ID with Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons

15 September, 2023

Delivered by Ms. Nelli Petrosyan, Human Rights Officer

President,

We thank the Independent Expert for the comprehensive report and share her assessment that older persons are disproportionately affected by armed conflicts.

Armenia would like to take this opportunity to thank the Independent Expert for addressing the plight of the older persons in Nagorno-Karabakh caught in the middle of the nine-months long blockade of the Lachin Corridor. A significant part of them has special needs for nutrition and medical care, that cannot be adequately met due to food shortages and lack of medical supplies. The hospitals in Nagorno-Karabakh are almost not operating, since Azerbaijan has also cut the energy supplies. The ICRC has not been able to deliver any humanitarian aid for more than two months.

Moreover, all older persons of Nagorno-Karabakh are at a high risk of being prosecuted by Azerbaijan, under the baseless accusations of allegedly participating in the war 30 years ago. Such was the case of the 68-year-old Vagif Khachatryan who was abducted during his pre-agreed medical transportation by the ICRC from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

There are no safeguards against the malpractices of Azerbaijan that neither respects the age, nor health conditions, nor the humanitarian principles, nor the human rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

I thank you.

MFA RA
official website

Dual citizenship

Electronic visa

Visa applications