Statement by Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan at the Opening Session of the 2026 Warsaw Human Dimension Conference

05 October, 2026

Mr. Chair,

Armenia thanks the Swiss Chairpersonship for convening this year’s Warsaw Human Dimension Conference and the ODIHR for its dedicated work in preparing it.

OSCE participating States have affirmed that human rights and fundamental freedoms are inalienable and that respect for the inherent dignity of every individual lies at the heart of comprehensive security. Yet, time and again, we witness how gross violations of these rights undermine stability and threaten peace, often serving as precursors to violent conflict. Prevention of, and accountability for, violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law are therefore essential, not only for the protection of individuals, but also for sustainable peace and security.

At a time of unprecedented geopolitical challenges, democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space and declining public trust, this comprehensive approach to security remains as relevant as ever.

Mr. Chair,

This year, Armenian citizens once again exercised their right to freely choose their government. The ODIHR-led international election observation mission concluded that the parliamentary elections of 7 June offered voters a genuine choice in a well-run process. Armenia remains committed to working closely with ODIHR to implement its recommendations and further strengthen our electoral framework.

Our democratic reform agenda continues and our international partners, including the OSCE institutions, remain trusted partners in this journey.

At the same time, we recognize that democratic resilience can never be taken for granted. Disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference, hate speech can erode public trust and weaken democratic institutions. Addressing these challenges must go hand in hand with safeguarding freedom of expression, media pluralism and an open and vibrant space for civil society.

Armenia is also concerned by rising intolerance across the OSCE area. Hate crimes against Christians, Antisemitism, Islamophobia must all be addressed with equal determination.

Mr. Chair,

We welcome the strong presence of civil society, whose participation brings unique value to this conference. We therefore encourage the OSCE Chairpersonship to safeguard both the openness and the integrity of its forums, while ensuring that these platforms are not misused by ingenuine NGOs, which openly condone violence.

In closing, Armenia remains firmly committed to the OSCE human dimension commitments and to international cooperation on strengthening the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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