Statement by Mr. Arsen Mikayelyan, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia, at the 35th Session of the CCPCJ: Use and application of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice

04 June, 2026

Delegation of the Republic of Armenia

35th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Vienna, 01-05 June 2026

Statement under agenda item 7: Use and application of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice

Mr. Chair,

Armenia recognizes that the application of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice remains fundamental to the protection of human rights, the promotion of the rule of law, and the development of fair, accountable, and humane criminal justice systems. Their consistent implementation strengthens public trust and confidence in justice institutions, contributes to the prevention of crime and reoffending, and supports the creation of safer, more inclusive, and resilient societies, while their universalization may contribute to peace and security.

Guided by this understanding, the Republic of Armenia remains firmly committed to aligning its criminal justice policies and practices with internationally recognized standards and norms. Armenia continues to incorporate relevant UN instruments into its legislative and institutional frameworks, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the United Nations Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Reduction of Reoffending.

As a member of the Group of Friends of Nelson Mandela Rules Armenia contributes to its primary objective of creating awareness and promoting the practical application on Mandela Rules.

A major milestone in this endeavor was the adoption of the new Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Penitentiary Code, which entered into force in 2022. For the first time, the Criminal Code of Armenia established resocialization as one of the goals of punishment. Accordingly, the Penitentiary Code explicitly established resocialization and the formation of law-abiding behavior as central objectives of sentence execution. Rehabilitation is no longer viewed as an activity that accompanies imprisonment; it is embedded in the legal framework itself.

Mr. Chair,

While the penitentiary legislation of the Republic of Armenia is largely aligned with the Nelson Mandela Rules and significant efforts have been undertaken to ensure their practical implementation, Armenia recognizes that prison reform is a continuous process.

To further advance these efforts, and at the request of the Government of Armenia, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) developed the Programmatic Report on Strengthening the Administration of Prisons and Probation through a Holistic Integration of Rehabilitation Efforts (SAPPHIRE.RA). The report provides a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening rehabilitation-oriented prison and probation services, enhancing inter-agency cooperation, improving evidence-based interventions, and supporting the social reintegration of offenders.

The SAPPHIRE.RA initiative was presented at the side event entitled “From Punitive Systems to Rehabilitation: Insights from Europe and Central Asia,” organized by UNODC in partnership with Armenia, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, and Ukraine in the margins of this session. We invite all interested donors to support the implementation of the mentioned programme.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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