On the participation of Armenia at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council

04 April, 2023

The 52^nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) took place on February 27-April 4, 2023 in Geneva.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia H.E. Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan participated at the high-level segment of the session. In his statement, Minister Mirzoyan reiterated Armenia's unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights. He underscored that according to the Freedom of Press Index and World Democracy Index, Armenia has been identified as the leader among the countries of the region.

The Minister spoke also about the blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and the pertinent decision of the International Court of Justice. He noted, in particular, that the ICJ has found that there was an imminent risk of irreparable harm to Armenians' rights under the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Minister stressed the importance of deploying a UN interagency mission in the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno Karabakh. He noted that it was the minimum that the international community could do under the existing circumstances.

In the framework of his working visit, Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held in Geneva a number of meetings, including the meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The high-level segment was followed by the general debates, interactive dialogues, and panel discussions, which focused on such essential topics of the Council as issues related to persons with disabilities, protection of the rights of children, adequate housing, right to food, human rights defenders, right to development. HRC discussions also pertained to the freedom of religion, rights of minorities, environment, and protection of cultural rights, among others. A number of interactive dialogues were related to the situation with human rights in various countries, including Belarus, Iran, Ukraine, and Syria.

During the session, the Permanent Mission of Armenia delivered 50 statements on the main topics debated in the framework of the HRC and presented the human rights priorities of Armenia. Special emphasis was made to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and its consequences, violations committed by Azerbaijan of the rights of the people of Artsakh, occupation of parts of the Armenian sovereign territory by Azerbaijan, as well as incitement to hatred, racist and discriminatory policies manifested by Azerbaijan against Armenians.

During the session, statements related to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the situation in Nagorno Karabakh were made also by the European Union, Cyprus, Luxemburg, France, Greece, World Council of Church, and World Evangelical Alliance.

During the 52^nd session of the HRC, Armenia aligned with 19 joint statements. Armenia also circulated 6 Note Verbales, as HRC official documents, related mainly to Nagorno Karabakh, blockade of the Lachin Corridor, and the pertinent decision of the International Court of Justice. A statement related to the 35^th anniversary of the Armenian pogroms in Sumgait was among the circulated documents.

In the course of the session Armenia joined Argentina, Fiji, Norway, Pakistan and South Africa in the establishment of the working group of HRC on Universal Periodic Review mechanism. The Group made a joint statement during the session.

During the 52^nd session of HRC, Armenia co-sponsored a number of important resolutions, including on human rights defenders, right to food, migrants, torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment, cultural rights, as well as the rights of national and religious minorities.

Armenia joined Belgium, Senegal, Thailand, and Mexico as a member of the core group of the resolution on Cooperation with Regional Human Rights Organizations, which was adopted by consensus and had more than sixty co-sponsors.

During the session, Armenia in cooperation with a group of states and non-governmental organizations co-organized two side events. One of them pertained to the rights of women and girls in humanitarian settings and the other one was on the crimes committed by DAESH terrorist group, including the genocide of Yazidis.

Armenia also participated at the traditional cultural event of national costumes held in the UN in the framework of HRC session. Beside its national dress, Armenia also presented wine, brandy, and sweets.

The 53^rd session of the Human Rights Council will kick off in June, 2023.

To learn more on Armenia’s participation to the previous sessions of HRC, as well as to read statements and interventions made by the RA Permanent Mission in Geneva, please visit https://switzerland.mfa.am/en

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