On June 24, in Geneva,  Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The sides commended the existing close cooperation between Armenia and the UN office for Human Rights, outlined steps to further deepen it. The interlocutors noted that human rights are universal, and cooperation aimed at their protection should also be universal - with no exceptions. 

Presenting the ongoing reforms in Armenia and the achievements reached within this framework, Minister Mnatsakanyan highlighted as Government’s priority the reforms being implemented in the judicial system aimed at ensuring its independence and impartiality and raising the public trust towards the judiciary. Foreign Minister of Armenia highly appreciated the coordination of the support of international and regional partners and effective use of their expertise in this process.

Foreign Minister of Armenia and the Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted the steps to be  taken by the international community towards promoting the agenda of preventing genocide and crimes against humanity. Foreign Minister of Armenia noted that prevention agenda has been a foreign policy priority for Armenia for over twenty years and reiterated Armenia’s commitment with this regard. 

Touching upon the women’s rights protection issues, Minister Mnatsakanyan informed that the Government of Armenia has already approved the first national action plan for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security.