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STATEMENT by Ambassador of Armenia Mr. Andranik Hovhannisyan in response to the Address by United Nations Under-Secretary-General Ms. Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, at the 1579th meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
1 October 2026
Mr. Chairperson, The Delegation of Armenia warmly welcomes the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Vanessa Frazier, to the Permanent Council, and thanks her for her insightful address. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the children and armed conflict mandate. Over three decades, it has managed to place the protection of children firmly on the international agenda. Armenia is a State Party to all core international instruments on the rights of the child, and we have further reinforced our commitment by endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration, the Paris Principles and the Vancouver Principles. We therefore attach great importance to the children and armed conflict agenda, particularly at a time when ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises continue to have devastating consequences for children across the world. The findings of the Secretary-General’s latest annual report are deeply alarming. As the Special Representative has already mentioned, in 2025 the United Nations verified the highest number of children affected since the mandate was established. Behind each of these figures is a child whose right to life, health, safety and education has been violated. The protection of children in armed conflict is an obligation under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and it must be respected by all parties, at all times and without exception. Mr. Chairperson, Armenia has experienced first-hand the profound humanitarian impact of armed conflict upon children. In cooperation with the United Nations and other international partners, we have made considerable efforts to address both the immediate and the long-term needs of children affected by conflict, with particular emphasis on their access to education, social protection and psychosocial support. We highly value the contribution of UNICEF and UNESCO in this regard, and we consider their continued engagement essential to the well-being and integration of children affected by conflict. We attach particular importance to safeguarding the right to education. Schools must remain safe spaces where children can learn and develop without fear of violence, discrimination or intimidation. Education also plays an indispensable role in overcoming the legacy of conflict, countering hatred and intolerance and fostering mutual understanding. Guided by these considerations, Armenia initiated the United Nations General Assembly resolution "Education for Peace", adopted without a vote on 4 June of this year and co-sponsored by around 100 Member States from all regional groups. Importantly in the context of today’s discussion, the resolution reaffirms the need to safeguard the right to accessible, safe inclusive and quality education with particular attention to children and learners affected by armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies and other crises. It also encourages the use of education to address the root causes of conflict, foster mutual trust and strengthen social cohesion. Through this initiative Armenia sought to advance a forward-looking approach in which education serves not only as a right to be protected in times of conflict, but also as a means of building the foundation for sustainable peace. Mr. Chair, The OSCE, with its comprehensive approach to security, has an important contribution to make. The most effective way to protect children is to prevent conflicts from breaking out in the first place. This is at the core of the OSCE mandate, which also has developed effective tools, which if properly used, can largely contribute to crisis management, confidence building and post conflict rehabilitation. We also see significant potential to further enhance cooperation and complementarity between the OSCE and the United Nations in this area. Ultimately, the best protection for children is peace. Armenia remains committed to durable peace in the South Caucasus, so that the children of our region can grow up free from the fear of war. Thank you.