Armenia was admitted into the United Nations on 2 March 1992, following its independence from the Soviet Union. In December 1992, the UN opened its first office in Yerevan. Since then, Armenia has signed and ratified several international treaties. There are 20 specialized agencies, programs, and funds operating in the country under the supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator. Armenia strengthened its relations with the UN by cooperating with various UN agencies and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and with the financial institutions of the UN. Armenia is a candidate to preside as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2031.
Representation
The United Nations maintains a representative office in Yerevan. In addition, UNESCO and the World Health Organization maintain offices in Yerevan. Meanwhile, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the International Monetary Fund also maintain offices in the country.
Armenia maintains three permanent missions to the UN located in New York City, Vienna, and Geneva. Armenia maintains a permanent mission to UNESCO in Paris, France and a representative office to the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme in Rome, Italy. Armenia also maintains a permanent representative office to the World Tourism Organization in Madrid, Spain and to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Vienna, Austria.United Nations World Tourism OrganizationUNIDO
Representation of UN programs in Armenia Several UN agencies and programs conduct operations in Armenia and maintain representative offices in the country, including the: Food and Agriculture Organization International Labour Organization International Organization for Migration United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS United Nations Development Program United Nations Population Fund United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations Children's Fund United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Participation in UN Agencies, Commissions, and Organs Armenia is a member of several UN specialized agencies, including: Food and Agriculture Organization International Civil Aviation Organization International Fund for Agricultural Development International Labour Organization International Maritime Organization International Monetary Fund International Telecommunication Union UNESCO United Nations Industrial Development Organization Universal Postal Union World Bank Group World Health Organization World Intellectual Property Organization World Meteorological Organization World Tourism Organization
Armenia is a member of several UN organs, including: United Nations Economic and Social Council United Nations General Assembly International Court of Justice
Armenia is a member of several UN Commissions, including: United Nations Commission on Human Rights United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice United Nations Commission on the Status of Women United Nations Commission for Social Development United Nations Commission on Population and Development United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
In addition, Armenia is a member of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the International Organization for Migration, the World Trade Organization, and an observer member of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Ratification of UN Conventions Armenia has signed and ratified several UN Conventions, including: Charter of the United Nations United Nations Convention Against Corruption United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances United Nations Convention against Torture United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Convention against Discrimination in Education United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons Genocide Convention Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
United Nations Regional Groups
Armenia is a member of the Eastern European Group, one of the five United Nations Regional Groups. The group holds six seats in the United Nations Human Rights Council, with Armenia holding one seat from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022.
United Nations Economic and Social Council
Armenia held a seat on the United Nations Economic and Social Council between 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021.
Millennium Development Goals Armenia's membership in the UN was drawn to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), stipulated by the Millennium Declaration adopted during the Millennium Summit in 2000. The MDGs have simulated never before practiced actions to meet the needs of the world's poorest. As the MDG achievement date of December 2015 drew closer a new set of global sustainable development goals were consulted worldwide, to be adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015. Armenia was included in the initial group of 50 countries to conduct national consultations on the global Post-2015 development agenda.
UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
The UNDAF system guides Armenia to attain its national development priorities and tackle various human rights challenges. Armenia's UNDAF represents the cooperation between the UN system and the Government of Armenia. It is authorized to set the framework for all UN Agencies and follow the development of their projects in Armenia.
The four major priorities of cooperation between 2010 and 2015 were the following: By providing economic opportunities for those in need and reducing inequality, promote inclusive and sustainable growth. By expanding society's participation, improving accountability and spreading institutional and capacity development to stabilize democratic governance. To improve access and quality of social services for vulnerable groups. The reduction of environmental and disaster risk, integrated into national and local development frameworks.
Food and Agriculture Organization The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization's mission is to stop starvation in the world. They have to ensure that people around the world have access to healthy meals on a daily bases. This is the main goal of FAO's performance. Since 1993, Armenia is a member of FAO. The office in Yerevan was opened in 2004. From the beginning of the corporation, Armenia has been receiving FAO assistance in giving projects aligned to develop agricultural efficiency and improve the safety of the country's food.
Between 2012 and 2015, the Government of Armenia and the FAO worked together in the following six areas: Livelihoods and competitiveness for small-scale farmers Animal health and production Crop production and plant protection Forestry Fisheries and aquaculture development Agricultural statistics
For future developments in this field program, the following operational agreements took place: Create more efficient collaboration with major progress under the guidance of the UN Resident Coordination, in the concern of a United Nations method that "delivers as one" Creating mutually beneficial relations with government institutions with the help of capacity-building actions and teaching Dynamically investigating occasions to create platform for bilateral and multilateral partnership, including the development of a pipeline projects to gain new donors.
International Labour Organization The International Labour Organization (ILO) was created in 1919 and became specialized in year 1946. This agency was the first specialized UN agency and it was created to promote social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights. The key principles of the International Labour Organization are: To promote and realize standards and fundamental principles and rights at work To create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment To enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all To strengthen tripartism and social dialogue
These principles can be achieved by: Formulation of international policies and programs to promote basic human rights, improve working and living conditions, and enhance employment opportunities Creation of international labor standards in the form of conventions and recommendations; backed by a unique system to supervise their application An extensive program of international technical cooperation Training, education, research, and publishing activities to help advance all of these efforts
International Labour Organization's functions in Armenia The functions of ILO in Armenia are coordinating by the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and the Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which are supported by the ILO National Coordinator in Yerevan. Co-operation between Armenia and the ILO are based on the constituent of the International Labour Organization, which are government, employers’ and workers’ organizations. One of the most important problems for Armenia is the development of employment policies. The government of Armenia decided to begin the improvement of employment policy by giving preference to active labor market policy programs instead of passive programs. The ILO helps Armenia to create and improve incentives for active labor market by training and educating employers. Another crucial issue for Armenia is to strengthen tripartism and social dialogue. The ILO constituents - the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues, the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia (RUEA) and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia, take into account the social dialogue, consultations and negotiations to find agreement on relevant national policies. The ILO helps the RUEA by providing specialized services for its members and support socio-economic policy in the framework of national tripartite cooperation. The government of Armenia has recently accepted the renewed policy system for public wages. The ILO supports Armenia by providing comprehensive and detailed analysis of the current public pay practice by examining wage levels and structures.
United Nations Development Program
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has the widest mandate. Its aim is to solve sustainable development issues across the world. The program connects with people no matter what role they play in society and help build nations that can overcome crisis as well as maintain the kind of growth that ensures better living standards. In Armenia, it provides equal opportunities and stately life for implementing innovative solutions for Armenia's development challenges.
In 1993, right after the Country Office was founded, cooperation between the Armenian Government and the program began. In each other's assistance, they made efforts to promote human development and the well-being of citizens. If there is the necessity the support towards collaboration and partnerships across governmental and non-governmental actors becomes their common goal. By ensuring the development of an efficient and responsive administration system, UNDP in Armenia draws on global and local expertise to build and attain innovative developmental projects and service delivery. These projects reach all parts of society, from local governments and communities to core government ministries.