Third Secretary Roberto Soto Martínez, speaks on the occasion of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Armenia. 49th session of the Human Rights Council’s UPR Working Group.

We welcome the delegation of Armenia.

We acknowledge the country’s commitment to the Universal Periodic Review and the legislative reforms carried out in the last term.

We urge Armenia to intensify its legal and judicial efforts to address violence against women, children, and other vulnerable groups in the country.

We recommend:

1. Adopt the necessary measures to ensure social inclusion and tolerance, preventing the classification of physical or psychological conditions related to sexual orientation as diseases, which leads to discriminatory and hateful acts against the LGBTIQ+ community.
2. Establish a comprehensive system for the protection and promotion of the rights of national minorities, in accordance with international law, including, among others, their cultural, linguistic, educational, and religious rights.

We wish Armenia success in this review and in implementing the accepted recommendations.

Thank you.