Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations Mher Margaryan delivered a statement at the UNGA 76 Third Committee/General Debate on Friday. The full text of the statement is provided below.
"Mr. Chair,
I congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on assuming the leadership of the Third Committee and wish you much success in guiding its work in course of the 76th session of the General Assembly.
The global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the related challenges have demonstrated, once again, that the human rights and fundamental freedoms must be at the center of the response and recovery efforts, as the pandemic continues to disproportionately affect those most vulnerable. Inclusive, people-centered and human-rights based response of the international community remains crucial to ensure everyone’s protection and enjoyment of the basic human rights, without undue politization, in line with the collective pledge of leaving no one behind.
Mr. Chair,
30 years ago, the people of Armenia voted in referendum to regain their independence embarking on the path of building representative and accountable democratic institutions, promoting rule of law, and upholding human rights. Despite all challenges, today, free and fair elections, protection of fundamental freedoms, free media, empowerment of women, independent institutions of protection of human rights and vibrant civil society are an irreversible reality in Armenia.
Effective protection and promotion of human rights lie at the core of the programmes and policies of the Government of Armenia, as consolidated by the ongoing implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan for the Protection of Human Rights for 2020-2023.
Today, Armenia is one of the few signatories of the 18 core international human rights instruments, having successfully ratified 16 of them, including, most recently, the optional protocols of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Armenia prioritizes women’s equal and meaningful participation in public life, as well as attaches particular importance to the economic empowerment of women and introduction of gender-responsive social protection systems. Following the snap elections this summer, the Armenian Parliament reached a record 34 percent of women’s participation, which was an important achievement for promoting political participation of women at the decision-making level.
As a leader of the "Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality" Action Coalition of the "Generation Equality" Forum, Armenia will promote meaningful access of women and girls to digital technologies and universal digital literacy with a view to bridge the gender digital divide.
The outcome documents of 64th and 65th sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women, which I had the honour to chair, provide a number of articulate, action-oriented policy recommendations to accelerate the realization of the objective of achieving gender equality, to which Armenia is fully committed.
Mr. Chair,
We support efforts towards strengthening the prevention capacity of the United Nations and regional organizations for timely identifying of and adequately responding to the warning signs of gross violations of humanitarian law and human rights law. Promulgation of hate speech, and incitement to violence on the basis of ethnicity and religion creates an environment conducive to genocide, crimes against humanity and other atrocity crimes. Such practices must be...
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