Statement by Ms. Syuzanna Martirosyan, Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations, at the Annual session of the UNICEF Executive Board

10 June, 2025

Mr. President,

Madam Executive Director,

At the outset, we would like to thank for the thorough presentation of the 2024 Annual Report.

Armenia values its longstanding cooperation with UNICEF and recognizes its pivotal role in safeguarding and advancing children’s rights. The UNICEF Country Office in Armenia remains a crucial partner in formulating and implementing national policies and strategies across critical sectors, including education, healthcare, social protection, and climate resilience.

In 2024, Armenia underwent an extensive review by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The follow-up to the Committee’s recommendations will be central to our ongoing efforts to consolidate human rights commitments and advance their implementation and UNICEF’s support is instrumental in this process.

We attach great importance to the forthcoming Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2026-2030, which will soon be submitted for adoption, and welcome the inclusive and constructive consultations conducted with all relevant line ministries throughout its drafting and review process. In particular, we appreciate the CPD’s focus on the most vulnerable groups, especially children in rural and border communities, children with disabilities, those affected by conflict, and refugee children, along with their host communities.

Mr. President,

Armenia is currently hosting over 120,000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, including 36,000 children. This situation has posed significant humanitarian challenges that require sustained and appropriate support. In this context, we value UNICEF’s close cooperation with the Government of Armenia and its active engagement in the inter-agency Refugee Response Plan (RRP), as well as its efforts to ensure a multifaceted and timely refugee response.

A notable initiative in this regard is the recent launch of the programme “Mental Health and Psychological Support for Nagorno-Karabakh Refugee and Host Community Children and Adolescents in Armenia”, implemented by the UNICEF Country Office in partnership with the Government of Japan. Developed in close collaboration with national stakeholders, the programme aims to expand access to quality, multi-sectoral mental health and psychosocial support services for refugee children and host community families.

Mr. President,

UNICEF’s continued engagement remains essential to Armenia’s efforts in advancing inclusive, resilient, and child-centered policies. We reaffirm our strong commitment to working in close partnership with UNICEF to uphold the rights of every child and to facilitate transformative changes that yield sustainable and long-term outcomes.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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