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

03 June, 2025

Mr. President,

Executive Director,

Distinguished Members of the Board,

We would like to express our appreciation for a comprehensive and forward-looking report, which clearly demonstrates UNFPA’s sustained impact and essential role in delivering life-saving support in both humanitarian and development settings. The remarkable achievement of reaching 10 million people with reproductive health services and protecting 3.6 million individuals from gender-based violence in crisis situations underscores UNFPA’s continued operational relevance.

As an incoming member of the Executive Board, Armenia attaches particular importance to the work of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS - especially at this critical time for the UN development system. We greatly value UNFPA’s commitment to human-centered programmatic activities, particularly in promoting women’s and youth empowerment, combatting gender-based violence and harmful practices, advancing disability inclusion, and supporting vulnerable groups.

In light of shrinking ODA and the growing shift in priorities toward humanitarian responses, Armenia reiterates the importance of sustainable, predictable, and adequately funded development agencies. In this context, we underscore the urgent need to increase core resources for UNFPA, given its mandate, global presence, and field-based delivery model.

Dear colleagues,

We would like to acknowledge the established effective cooperation between the Government of Armenia and the UNFPA Country Office, one of the successful examples of which is the substantive role of the Country Office in elaboration of the Demographic Strategy of Armenia 2024–2040, which sets out the country’s demographic development priorities and provides a strategic roadmap for achieving them. We encourage UNFPA’s continued engagement in supporting its successful implementation.

UNFPA’s support was also crucial in addressing the immediate needs of the forcibly displaced women and youth from Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. We highlight the importance of further engagement of UNFPA and other agencies, as well as development partners in addressing their long-term needs, such as providing employment and quality education opportunities.

We are also pleased to inform the Board that the draft UNFPA Country Programme Document (CPD) for Armenia, elaborated with extensive multistakeholder consultations and fully aligned with national priorities and needs, has been endorsed by the Government and will soon be submitted for adoption.

In conclusion, Armenia reaffirms its strong support for UNFPA’s mandate and its transformative agenda. We stand ready to contribute actively to the work of the Executive Board and to collaborate with all partners to ensure that the rights, health, and dignity of every person, especially women and young people, are fully realized.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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