Statement by the Delegation of Armenia - Ms. Sofya Margaryan, Counsellor - UNGA 79 Third Committee - Agenda item 107 “Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice” - Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations

Statement by the Delegation of Armenia - Ms. Sofya Margaryan, Counsellor - UNGA 79 Third Committee - Agenda item 107 “Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice”

07 October, 2024

Madam Chair,

Crime and impunity erode the very foundations of society, undermining security and development while infringing upon basic human rights. Strengthening the foundational elements of justice remains essential to effectively preventing and combating crime. Armenia remains fully committed to addressing these challenges through robust national and international collaboration.

Through comprehensive reforms and targeted strategies, Armenia has been working to strengthen the overall resilience and integrity of its institutions. Significant milestones include the establishment of the Corruption Prevention Commission in 2019 (an independent body tasked with preventing corruption), the operationalization of the Anti-Corruption Committee in 2021, and the establishment of a specialized anti-corruption judicial system in 2022, featuring an Anti-Corruption Court. Legislative reforms aimed at identifying beneficial owners of legal entities and improving the whistleblowing system have further reinforced Armenia's anti-corruption efforts.

As cybercrime becomes increasingly sophisticated, Armenia has been working to strengthen the legal and institutional capacities to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber-related offenses and to ensure that our efforts are in line with existing regional and international frameworks, notably, the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.

Madam Chair,

Armenia is committed to countering human trafficking and exploitation, having implemented seven action plans to this end within the past two decades. In recent years, Armenia has taken concrete steps to strengthen its legal framework against human trafficking, notably, through the recent amendments to the Labour Code. Furthermore, policies to combat human trafficking place special emphasis on empowering women and young girls through targeted training and education initiatives. To mitigate online trafficking risks, Armenia conducts awareness-raising activities nationwide and employs a systematic approach to monitor digital spaces for suspicious advertisements and recruitment patterns, ensuring the identification and addressing of potential trafficking threats.

Armenia actively cooperates with international monitoring bodies to enhance its counter-trafficking efforts, including with the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) operating under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. Armenia has a solid track record of collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and we have been consistently contributing inputs to its Global Report on Trafficking in Persons.

Armenia values its long-standing cooperation with the UNODC, recognizing its vital role in supporting our crime prevention capacities. The Roadmap of Cooperation between Armenia and UNODC for 2022-2026 provides strategic framework in guiding our efforts to strengthen institutional resilience against crime throughout the five thematic pillars of the UNODC. As Armenia continues to navigate complex challenges, effective collaboration with UNODC, including through the continued presence of the Office in the country, will be essential in strengthening our responses to crime and improving judicial processes.

Madam Chair,

As a member of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), Armenia will continue to contribute to the work of the Commission and to support a unified approach to crime prevention and justice that prioritizes the protection of human rights and the well-being of affected individuals. By joining the Group of Friends of the Nelson Mandela Rules, Armenia is working to support human rights and dignity in penitentiary systems.

Enhancing effective law enforcement, accountability, and victim support are essential for effectively protecting and promoting the human rights, and Armenia stands ready to support such efforts.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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