Statement by H.E. Mr. Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations, at the UNGA81 Third Committee/General Debate

02 October, 2026

Mr. Chair,
Excellencies,

Allow me to congratulate the members of the Bureau on assuming the leadership of the Third Committee and to reaffirm Armenia’s full support for the work of the Committee.

Armenia remains steadfast in its support for a strong, effective and adequately resourced United Nations human rights system, capable of preventing human rights violations and ensuring accountability. We regard the ongoing UN80 initiative as a timely opportunity to take stock of existing challenges, identify areas for improvement and translate our shared commitments into concrete measures that further enhancing the UN human rights architecture.

At the national level, Armenia continues to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening institutions, judicial independence, transparency and accountability, while combating corruption. Political pluralism, an active civil society and a free and diverse media environment remain essential elements of Armenia’s democratic development.

We remain closely engaged with international human rights mechanisms, including UN treaty bodies, and attach particular importance to the effective implementation of their recommendations. Following the 4^th Universal Periodic Review, we have focused on translating these recommendations into concrete national action. The establishment of the National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up, together with its digital platform, Armenia’s Institutional Network for Monitoring and Reporting – AI-NEMRA – is intended to ensure more systematic coordination, implementation and follow-up of recommendations addressed to Armenia by international and regional monitoring mechanisms, including UN treaty bodies, special procedures, the Universal Periodic Review and the Council of Europe.

Mr. Chair,

Advancing the rights of women and girls remains integral to Armenia’s human rights agenda. Our Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan for 2025–2028 addresses persistent inequalities and gender-based violence, while promoting women’s economic empowerment, meaningful participation in public life and equal opportunities in the digital sphere. Armenia’s third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security further advances women’s participation in peace and security processes and seeks to ensure that the needs and perspectives of women and girls affected by conflict are fully reflected in recovery and peacebuilding.

Gender equality also remains and important priority on our multilateral agenda. Recognizing both the transformative potential of digital technologies and the particular challenges they may pose for women and girls, Armenia, together with a cross-regional core group, has tabled a resolution in the Human Rights Council aimed at promoting human rights-based, inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches to digital transformation.

Protecting the rights and well-being of children is equally a priority. In line with the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Armenia continues to strengthen its child protection framework in close cooperation with the United Nations, including UNICEF.

Armenia also recognizes education as a powerful means of advancing human rights and empowering individuals to exercise their fundamental freedoms. In this spirit, Armenia initiated the General Assembly resolution “Education for Peace,” adopted unanimously in June, which is grounded in the understanding that education is fundamental to building more peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies.

As the incoming Presidency of the 17^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, we recognize that conserving biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of nature are closely connected to the enjoyment of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. In this regard, Armenia seeks to promote approaches that place people and human well-being at the center of biodiversity action, while ensuring the full and effective participation of women and groups particularly affected by biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.

Mr. Chair,

Preventing the gravest human rights violations remains a longstanding priority of Armenia’s foreign policy. We remain actively engaged in international efforts to prevent genocide and other atrocity crimes. We continue to advocate for strengthening early warning mechanism to address major risk factors such as prosecution of protected groups, as well as racism, xenophobia and hate crimes.

This commitment has guided Armenia’s initiatives across the UN, including the establishment by the General Assembly, at Armenia’s initiative in 2015, of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. Its tenth anniversary, marked by a High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly in 2025 at Armenia’s initiative, provided an important opportunity to reaffirm the shared commitment of Member States to prevention, accountability and effective multilateral action.

Armenia also continues to advance the biennial Human Rights Council resolution on the Prevention of Genocide, most recently adopted by consensus in March. With its emphasis on early warning, the resolution underscores the importance of safeguarding and strengthening the United Nations genocide prevention mandate, including in the context of the UN80 initiative, and ensuring that prevention remains a system-wide and cross-pillar priority.

Mr. Chair,

As efforts to consolidate peace in our region continue, a number of outstanding humanitarian issues remain to be addressed. These include the continued detention of 19 Armenians, the fate and whereabouts of missing persons and cases of enforced disappearance. Addressing these issues in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law will contribute to strengthening peace, building trust and supporting reconciliation in the region.

Mr. Chair,

At a time of converging crises and growing pressure on the international human rights system, the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity remain indispensable to its credibility and effectiveness.

Armenia remains committed to constructive engagement in the work of the Third Committee and to cooperation with all Member States and partners to enhance our collective capacity to uphold human rights, promote accountability and respond effectively to emerging challenges.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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