ARS PARTICIPATION IN UN MEETINGS
The Armenian Relief Society participated in this year’s 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The ARS delegation attended the opening session of the Commission, which took place on Monday, March 9, 2026, at UN Headquarters in New York City, under the theme:“Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for women and girls, particularly through the promotion of inclusive and effective legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and the removal of structural barriers.”
The ARS delegation also participated in a town hall meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. In addition, the delegation attended a ministerial-level meeting of the EU-established “Group of Friends for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls.”
Furthermore, the ARS UN Committee, in collaboration with the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights and the Armenian Bar Association, organized a parallel event on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., at the UN Church Center, entitled: “From Displacement to Justice: Strengthening Protection, Rights and Recovery for Conflict-Affected Women and Girls.” The panel included presentations by Kevork Hagopjian, Gev Iskajyan, and Areni Hamparian, and was moderated by Talar Abdalian.
During the two weeks of the proceedings, the ARS delegation was joined by the five members of the Central Executive Board, members of the Eastern USA Executive Board, as well as representatives from Eastern USA, Canada, and South America who participated in a series of meetings. Among these, the session titled “Prosperous, Healthy, and Dignified: Policy Pathways for Older Women in Developing Countries” was of particular significance.
The Armenian Relief Society, as a non-governmental organization, has been actively engaged with relevant United Nations bodies since 1976. Since 1988, it has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
In addition, an ARS delegation attended the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on March 16, 17, 18, 2026, in Geneva, Switzerland, where safeguarding civil liberties, preventing discrimination, and equality were discussed.
