On 28 September,  at its 6th Session United Nations Human Rights Council adopted without a vote a Resolution on the Protection of cultural heritage as an important component for the promotion and protection of cultural rights. The Republic of Armenia is the initiator and main sponsor of this Resolution, which was supported cross-regionally and co-sponsored by Council members and observers, among them Egypt, Algeria, Tunis, Russian Federation, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Angola, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Belarus, etc.

While outlining that cultural heritage is an important component of the cultural identity of communities, groups and individuals, the resolution reiterates that each culture has a dignity and value which must be respected and preserved. The resolution also stresses that promotion and protection of cultural rights and the respect for different cultural identities are vital elements to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and co-operation among different cultures, civilisations and peoples.

The Resolution recognises destruction of cultural heritage as a violation of cultural rights and stresses that its intentional destruction may constitute advocacy and incitement to national, racial or religious hatred. While expressing grave concern about continuing acts of intentional destruction of cultural heritage in various parts of the world, the Resolution underlines the responsibility of States fo such intentional destruction or failure to take appropriate measures to prohibit, prevent, stop and punish such acts.

At the same session the Republic of Armenia submitted as official documents of the Council information about the destruction of archaeological complex in Jugha and of the entire Armenian cultural heritage in the Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

At the same Session at the initiative of the Republic of Armenia the Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a decision on the Prevention of Genocide. This decision follows up on the previous initiatives of Armenia within the United Nations and its human rights body in Geneva and aims at developing early prevention and early warning mechanisms against the crime of genocide.

Armenia is convinced that early prevention of violations of various sets of human rights, including the rights of national, racial, ethnic and religious groups, prevents the proliferation of such violations and ultimately of gross and systematic violations, and therefore constitutes early prevention of the crime of genocide.

This initiative is yet another benchmark in Armenia’s efforts to promote a system of regular and co-ordinated activities and co-operation between the UN main Human Rights body, including its special mechanisms and the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights on the one hand, and the Special Adviser of the UN Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide on the other.

The initiative also promotes one of Armenia’s main priorities in international co-operation in the field of promotion and protection of human right. It also reflects on the moral duty of the Armenian people before humanity.

The decision was co-sponsored by 62 states, which is an indication of a broadly shared ownership of this initiative.

At the same session at the initiative of four countries representing four regional groups of the United Nations, including Armenia, Belgium, Mexico and Senegal the Human Rights Council adopted without a vote a resolution on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights. The resolution initiates practical arrangements for the promotion of co-operation between such regional structures and the United Nations main human rights body. The Resolution creates a forum for the human rights bodies from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa under the auspices of the UN main human rights body. Armenia promotes this initiative having in mind the benefits of its membership in the Council of Europe and the OSCE.