A/HRC/44/10 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-fifth session from 20 to 31 January 2020. The review of Armenia was held at the 7th meeting, on 23 January 2020. The delegation of Armenia was headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artak Apitonian. At its 13th meeting, held on 28 January 2020, the Working Group adopted the report on Armenia. 2. On 14 January 2020, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Armenia: Nepal, Poland and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Armenia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/ARM/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/ARM/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/ARM/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Azerbaijan, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay was transmitted to Armenia through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of Armenia stated that Armenia had supported the universal periodic review process and would continue the practice of submitting midterm reports covering the implementation of recommendations. 6. Armenia, as a newly elected member of the Human Rights Council, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights according to its voluntary pledges, including by building peaceful and inclusive societies, addressing the issues of preventing genocide and mass atrocities, countering hate crimes against ethnic and religious groups, and protecting the rights of women and refugees. 7. In 2018, a popular non-violent velvet revolution had taken place in Armenia, giving a new impetus to legal, judicial, economic and social reforms in the country and to radical transformations in the fields of good governance, the rule of law and human rights. The new Government was empowered by the very strong mandate and public support of the people. 8. Another significant development had been the constitutional reform, which had led to a transition from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary republic and shaped a more democratic system of governance with a clear separation of and balance between its branches. 9. The new National Strategy for Human Rights Protection and its Action Plan had been drafted with the full engagement and active participation of all stakeholders, government institutions, civil society and international partners. In November 2019, Armenia celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of the Human Rights Defender’s Office, which had been reaccredited with A status. 2