Needs and rights of persons forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh; In Geneva Deputy Minister Karen Karapetyan speaks out about humanitarian crisis resulting from Azerbaijani aggression

During the 74^th session of the United Nations Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in Geneva, a discussion on the 4^th Periodic Report of the Republic of Armenia (2014-2019) — submitted within the scope of the homonymous Covenant — was held with the participation of Deputy Minister of Justice Karen Karapetyan and Head of the Department for International Legal Cooperation Anahit Abrahamyan.

Karen Karapetyan presented to the Committee the specifics of the situation created in consequence of the military operations and policy of ethnic cleansing unleashed by Azerbaijan against the peaceful civilians of Nagorno-Karabakh and specifically touched upon the humanitarian crisis caused by the Azerbaijani aggression. The Armenian delegation also touched upon the ongoing activities and future plans for ensuring the needs and rights of persons forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The delegation presented the progress that Armenia has made in different areas with regard to the problems identified in the Report. Deputy Minister Karen Karapetyan presented the progress made by the country in the justice sector between 2014 and 2019, as well as between 2019-2023 in the context of application of the articles of the Covenant, touching upon the legislative reforms made in the areas of ensuring and applying the articles of the Covenant in accordance with the legislation, the course of judicial-legal and anti-corruption reforms, ensuring equality before the law, unimpeded exercise of the rights of national minorities, protection of the rights of minors in penitentiary institutions, prevention of violence against women and domestic violence, access to justice for vulnerable groups, as well as the legislative reforms made in a number of other fields and the legislative drafts which are currently in circulation.

The delegates also answered the questions of the members of the Committee and the rapporteurs on Armenia.

The Committee expressed gratitude to the Armenian Party for co-operation in the course of development and assessment of the Report. In her closing speech, Vice-Chair and Country Rapporteur of the Commission Mrs. Lemus De Vásquez attached importance to the constructive co-operation that the Commission has had with Armenia during these years and expressed her gratitude for the additional clarifications that the Armenian delegation thoroughly made during the discussion. The Committee also highlighted the undertaking of the Republic of Armenia with regard to the continuity of the reforms targeted at application of the articles of the Covenant.

Based on the outcomes of the session, the Committee will present its final comments and suggestions with regard to the future actions aimed at making improvements in the field of protection of economic, social and cultural rights in Armenia, which will go on to serve as a basis for development of the new 5^th Periodic Report.