Intervention by the Delegation of Armenia at the Interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Ms. Sofya Margaryan, Counsellor, at the UNGA 79 Third Committee

Madam Chair,

We would like to thank the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Volker Türk for his presentation and to reaffirm our support for the independence and integrity of the OHCHR's mandate.

Ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights is a key pillar of the United Nations' work, fundamentally interconnected with the other two pillars, as neither peace and security nor sustainable development can be truly achieved without safeguarding human rights.

Armenia places high importance on enhancing the independence and efficiency of the UN human rights machinery, reflecting our unwavering commitment to cooperation with the treaty bodies and special procedures. Over the past year, Armenia has undergone reviews for the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Looking ahead, Armenia is preparing for the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review in 2025.

Madam Chair,

Human rights violations erode the foundations of justice, making accountability crucial to prevent future abuses. One year ago, the entire ethnic Armenian population of NagornoKarabakh was forcibly displaced in an act of ethnic cleansing, following the use of deadly military force, starvation, and a devastating blockade, in violation of the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice. These atrocities have been extensively documented, as confirmed by multiple independent reports.

Amidst a severe humanitarian crisis, which our country was confronted with, the deployment of two surge capacity teams to gather essential information on the violations 2 that led to the mass displacement from Nagorno-Karabakh has been an important step. Armenia believes that the findings from these missions must safeguard the rights of those affected and uphold their right to truth. In light of the above, our delegation would kindly request further insights on the following questions:

- What measures does the OHCHR take to follow up on the findings of the surge capacity teams missions to Armenia? What strategies does the OHCHR have in place to ensure that their findings are used to promote accountability?

- How does the OHCHR work to address the long-term impact of displacement on affected populations and to support their rights? How does it coordinate its response with humanitarian organizations and with other UN bodies and agencies?

Thank you.