Statement by the Delegation of Armenia at the UNGA81 Sixth Committee under agenda item “Crimes against Humanity”

12 October, 2026

Madam Chair,

At the outset, I want to reiterate Armenia’s strong and principled support for the elaboration of a legally binding comprehensive convention on crimes against humanity that would fill an important gap in the international legal framework and strengthen the international community's capacity to prevent crimes against humanity, ensure accountability for their perpetrators, and provide greater protection and access to justice for victims and survivors.

Armenia welcomes the constructive discussions held during the first session of the Preparatory Committee in January 2026. The session demonstrated the continued commitment of States to advancing this process, while also highlighting areas requiring further consideration. The discussions have now provided a useful basis for moving from broad consideration of the issues towards focused textual negotiations.

We attach particular importance to ensuring that the future convention remains focused on its central objectives: prevention, accountability and effective international cooperation.

Guided by this principle, Armenia has consistently advanced the prevention agenda across the United Nations. The International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, proclaimed by the General Assembly at Armenia's initiative in 2015, has become an important platform for promoting international cooperation on atrocity prevention. Building on this, Armenia initiated the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly marking the 10th Anniversary of the International Day last year, bringing together Member States to reaffirm our shared commitment to prevention, accountability and effective multilateral action.

This year Armenia will also organize the 6^th Global Forum against the Crime of Genocide which will be dedicated to the upcoming 80^th anniversary of the Genocide Convention. The discussions will focus on existing gaps and avenues for addressing them. We hope that member states and wide range of stakeholders will take this opportunity to share their perspectives on interlinkages with the process of elaboration on the Convention.

Armenia continues to lead the biennial Human Rights Council resolution on the Prevention of Genocide, adopted again by consensus this March. The resolution promotes an early warning approach to genocide prevention, calls for strengthening the UN's genocide prevention mandate in the context of the UN80 initiative and underscores the mandate’s essential role in guiding the integration of genocide prevention as a system-wide, cross-pillar priority.

Complementing these preventive efforts, education remains one of the most effective long-term tools for prevention. This year, the General Assembly adopted by consensus the "Education for Peace" resolution, initiated by Armenia, recognizing the role of education in promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and a culture of peace.

In this regard, we consider that the obligations concerning prevention and punishment, as reflected in the ILC Draft Articles, should remain central to the future instrument. The Convention should provide States with an effective framework to prevent crimes against humanity, ensure that such crimes are criminalized under national law, and facilitate the investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

We also underscore the importance of ensuring complementarity with existing rules of international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law. We view the process and its possible outcome in the light of strong complementarity with the Rome Statute of the ICC as well as universal legal frameworks – the Genocide Convention and the Geneva Conventions.

Madam Chair,

My delegation further attaches importance to a strong victim and survivor-centered approach. The success of the future convention should ultimately be measured by its practical contribution to preventing atrocities, ending impunity and ensuring justice for victims and survivors.

Madam Chair,

The international community has a shared responsibility to ensure that the gravest crimes are prevented and that those responsible do not enjoy impunity. Armenia is fully committed to the successful elaboration and adoption of a strong, effective and universally supported convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.

We look forward to continuing our collective work towards this important objective.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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