Armenia’s Contribution to the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

16 October, 2023

The 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) took place in Geneva from 11 September to 13 October 2023. The interactive dialogues and panel discussions of the 54th Session of the HRC focused on key issues on the Council’s agenda, such as arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, the use of mercenaries, truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, as well as the right to safe drinking water and sanitation. Panel discussions on Indigenous Peoples and unilateral coercive measures took place during the session. A number of interactive dialogues were held on the country-specific human rights situations.

The delegation of Armenia delivered 44 statements and rights of reply in its national capacity and aligned with 19 joint statements.

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia addressed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh under a number of agenda items of HRC. The Permanent Mission of Armenia particularly raised in its statements the issues of the humanitarian crisis that resulted from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, as well as the ethnic cleansing committed by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. The delegation of Armenia also presented Azerbaijan's military attack of September 19, 2023 against Nagorno-Karabakh, the forced displacement of over 100,000 Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, and Azerbaijan’s targeting of civilian population and infrastructure. It was stressed that Azerbaijan has ignored the orders of the International Court of Justice, as well as the clear-cut communications of the UN Special Procedures and reports of Treaty Bodies.

Under agenda items 2 and 4 of HRC, a number of countries addressed the human rights and humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Under agenda item 2, all EU countries, as well as North Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, Liechtenstein issued a joint statement in this regard. Greece and the World Evangelical Alliance too in separate statements expressed their concern over the blockade of the Lachin Corridor and called on Azerbaijan to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement along the Lachin corridor. Under agenda item 4, Cyprus, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the USA, Finland, Estonia, Ireland and the Netherlands also addressed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. France, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Cyprus condemned Azerbaijan's military attack against Nagorno-Karabakh. Under agenda item 10 of the HRC, 40 countries issued a joint statement, where they expressed their concern about the dire humanitarian and human rights crises in Nagorno-Karabakh. The joint statement stressed that the massive displacement of ethnic Armenians from their homes stems from Azerbaijan’s military operation launched on September 19^th and the nine-month long blockade of the Lachin corridor. It is mentioned that reported violations of human rights and international humanitarian law require follow up, including prompt, independent and transparent investigation. The joint statement was delivered by the Permanent Mission of France to the UN Office in Geneva.

During the HRC54 the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries presented a report on its visit to Armenia, which was followed by an interactive dialogue. The Working Group stressed that Armenia stands out in its efforts to integrate the 1989 UN Convention on Mercenaries in its domestic legislation. The Permanent Mission of Armenia mentioned in its statement that the Working Group puts to rest the allegations of Azerbaijan on the purported use of mercenaries by Armenia in the context of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Working Groups’ report also referred to the use of mercenaries by Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

At the 54th Session of the HRC, Armenia co-sponsored a number of important resolutions, including on the truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, the human right of older persons, Enforced disappearances, World Programme for Human Rights Education, the use of mercenaries, the death penalty, Enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights and the Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.

Within the framework of HRC, Armenia together with the core group of countries consisting of Argentina, Fiji, Norway, Pakistan and South Africa, co-sponsored a side event on the contribution of the Universal Periodic Review to strengthening national human rights protection systems.

Armenia also circulated 3 Government Communications as HRC official documents on the topic of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, on Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh and on the UN Security Council’s urgent meeting convened on the request of Armenia.

The next, 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council will start in February 2024.

Information on Armenia’s participation to previous HRC Sessions, as well as the statements delivered by the Permanent Mission of Armenia are available at the following website: https://switzerland.mfa.am/en/news.

MFA RA
official website

Dual citizenship

Electronic visa

Visa applications