Statement by Ambassador Mher Margaryan at the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly under the Agenda Item 129: "The Responsibility to Protect and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity"

01 July, 2024

Mr. President,

I thank the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect for presenting the Secretary-General’s report underscoring the urgency of addressing challenges related to the prevention Agenda.

The report highlights necessity for states and the international community to uphold their commitments in protecting populations and the vital role of civil society organizations in advocating for the prevention of mass atrocity crimes worldwide. Despite the efforts made and commitments voiced, the reality remains that atrocities continue to occur, often, with blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights laws by various actors.

While the report of the Secretary-General highlights many important conceptual aspects related to prevention and protection, it is imperative to reflect and address particular situations, where gross violations persist with impunity.

Less than a year ago, in September 2023, a large-scale offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in mass forced displacement of the entire Armenian population from their ancestral homeland. Over one hundred thousand people sought refuge in Armenia, leaving behind their homes, properties, shrines, and the millennia-old cultural and religious heritage. Azerbaijan’s violent attack was preceded by the 10 month-long blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, in direct breach of the international humanitarian law and the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice, instigating a man-made humanitarian catastrophe with a devastating impact on the civilians.

The premeditated and well-planned aggression against a people under blockade, which drove the entire population into forced displacement, is an explicit case of ethnic cleansing, perpetrated under the watch of the international community. It prompted the Special Advisor of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide to issue a statement on 22 September 2023, stressing that “Military action can only contribute to escalate what is already a tense situation and to put the civilian population in the area at risk of violence, including risk of genocide and related atrocity crimes”.

The entire UN system, including its humanitarian and political arms, have yet to acknowledge the gravity of these violations and to reflect on the failure to prevent them, while making efforts to work towards ensuring dignified conditions for the forcefully displaced refugees to return to their places of origin, as guaranteed by the international law.

There is an urgent need to evaluate the current toolbox of the United Nations system for prevention and to establish more responsive and effective mechanisms for addressing the root causes of conflict, and to ensure accountability for atrocity crimes and for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Compliance with the legally binding decisions of international courts and tribunals is fundamental in ensuring that perpetrators of atrocity crimes are brought to justice. Armenia is resolute in fighting atrocity crimes, including through mechanisms provided by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Mr. President,

The Armenian people understand deeply the suffering and devastation that genocide inflicts. Our history compels us to advocate for justice, accountability, and remembrance. Armenia has traditionally promoted resolutions related to genocide prevention and memorialization, having introduced the first resolution at the Commission on Human Rights back in 1998. Subsequently, the scope and the substance of the resolutions on the subject have been fundamentally enriched. At the forefront of our efforts stand the recurrent resolutions on genocide prevention, which we have been tabling at the Human Rights Council, as well as the General Assembly - establishing the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of This Crime. The GA Resolution 69/323 stands as a cornerstone in our efforts to raise awareness and to honour those who have fallen victims of past inaction, as well as to stress the importance for collective tribute and respect towards victims, survivors and descendants of all genocides, crimes adjudicated in the international courts of law, and those whose perpetrators never received justice.

Armenia has been regularly hosting Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide, attended by public figures, religious, academic, civil society and media representatives from across the world, to contribute to multilateral efforts in promoting the global prevention agenda. The 5^th Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide will elaborate on the challenges of early warning and timely action and the ways to strengthen the effectiveness of international mechanisms in addressing the risks of atrocity crimes.

Mr. President,

As the report of the Secretary-General indicates, failure to effectively protect populations from atrocities erodes trust in the international system. Without proactive action to address these challenges, the cycle of atrocities and human suffering will persist, undermining the fundamental principles of justice, human dignity, and respect for human rights on a global scale. It is imperative to bridge this implementation gap by refining strategies, enhancing the capacities of relevant stakeholders, and fostering a culture of proactive intervention to address the root causes of atrocities before they escalate.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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