ArmenPress, Armenia
Armenia holds panel on Digital Technologies and Humanitarian Response
at the United Nations
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. On 19 June, the Permanent Mission of
Armenia to the UN, in partnership with the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU), organized a panel on Humanitarian response at the UN
Headquarters in New York. Bridging technology, innovation,
development, human rights and humanitarian agendas, the panel
discussed the role of social media and emerging information and
communications technologies in engaging populations affected by
crisis, ARMENPRESS correspondent reports from New York.
In his opening remarks, Mher Margaryan, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of
Armenia to the UN, highlighted that effective community engagement
remains an important priority in overall coordination of humanitarian
response. He noted that the UN system should do more to engage
affected populations and support those who amplify their voices.
The panel, moderated by Lara Setrakian, CEO, Co-Founder of News
Deeply, included Alexandra Sicotte-Lévesque, a representative of the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC) and Andrej Verity, a representative of the UN Office for
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Panelists discussed the
ways, in which digital technologies can help improve and consolidate
the work of humanitarian actors, how their impact on the ground can be
assessed in terms of the quality and effectiveness.
The panel brought together representatives of the UN member states, UN
agencies, academia, as well as a large number of civil society
representatives. Also participating was travel blogger and journalist
Alexander Lapshin who, while presenting his case, reflected on
instances of attacks, threats and intimidation against journalists and
media activists, as well as attempts to politicize the issue of access
to conflict zones.
Below is the transcript of Mr. Margaryan’s remarks at the event.
“It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to a panel discussion on the
role of social media and digital technologies in times of disasters
and crises organized by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN, in
cooperation with our long-standing partner, Armenian General
Benevolent Union (AGBU).
The topic of today’s panel is central to addressing the very many
challenges and disturbing realities of our times, in so many parts of
the world. Improved humanitarian coordination and response will be
critical to help mitigate situations of crisis where the right to life
of the human being is increasingly threatened. Community engagement
remains an important priority in overall coordination of humanitarian
response, and deserves special focus.
26 years ago, when Armenia became a UN member state, we had to make
our way in the world of humanitarian and development assistance,
which, back then, had a different set of actors, policies and
problems. Since then, the international cooperation landscape has
become much more complex, in particular, in the face of multiple
challenges and threats we are facing.
The global wave of displacement has brought about a large number of
risks and instabilities, which require a collective response on an
international level, including through better coordination on matters
of border management, migration and fight against trafficking –
important areas of international cooperation effectively embraced and
supported by Armenia.
Armenia is deeply concerned and is closely following the ongoing
refugee crisis and the developments in our wider region. More than
22.000 displaced persons have sought protection in Armenia over the
past few years.
We continue to implement facilitated integration and settlement
programs for the displaced people, and, in this regard, it is
important to give due acknowledgements to the invaluable role of
international institutions, non-governmental sector, Diaspora and
faith-based organizations for having supported our country in
alleviating the needs of refugees over the years. In Armenia, we have
been privileged to have a vibrant and ever-stronger civil society,
which is an integral part of our public life, and we see merit in
continuously supporting the efforts of the civil society, also on a
global level, as an important contribution to humanitarian and
development response.
Within the United Nations, Armenia has been consistently supporting
the promotion of human rights, including, most notably, through the
concept and the practice of prevention. This implies a focus on the
early action to prevent situations, which, if not addressed, result in
conflicts and atrocity crimes. To this end, since 1998, Armenia has
been leading the international efforts to underpin the significance of
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide, as well as to construct solid foundations for prevention. In
2015, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution tabled by
Armenia, which proclaimed the 9th of December as an International Day
of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide
and of the Prevention of that Crime. This landmark resolution followed
up on resolution unanimously adopted by the UN Human Rights Council,
upon Armenia’s initiative. High-level events in observance of the
9thof December have since been held regularly at the United Nations
and across the world, to pay tribute to those who fell victims of past
inaction. The establishment and the regular observance of the
International Day adds to the continued efforts of Armenia to promote
consolidated international action against the crime of genocide.
Armenia continues to exert resolute efforts in promoting consolidated
international action against the crime of genocide. Since 2015 Armenia
has been regularly hosting a Global Forum Against the Crime of
Genocide, attended by political, public, religious, academic, civil
society and media representatives from all over the world. The 2018
Global Forum will focus on the role of education and media in
eliminating hatred, intolerance and xenophobia. We encourage all
member states and all relevant bodies and entities of the United
Nations to bring their participation.
Over the past three years, the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity has
been honored in Armenia, in recognition of modern day humanitarians.
Earlier this month, a 1 mln. dollar Prize, established on behalf of
the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their
saviors, was awarded to its third recipient since 2015, to offer life
and hope to those in need of humanitarian assistance.
Today’s panel will look into the role of social media and ICT in
engaging populations affected by crisis. We look forward to an active
dialogue on how social media and ICTs can help improve and consolidate
the work of humanitarian actors, how their impact on the ground can be
assessed in terms of the quality, relevance and effectiveness and what
are the major challenges undermining the credibility and validity of
such communication channels.
With this, I am happy to introduce our distinguished panelists, - Ms.
Alexandra Sicotte-Lévesque, who is the Manager for Community
Engagement at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent (IFRC). Prior to IFRC, Alexandra was the Global Adviser for
Community Engagement at the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (UNOCHA) supporting field offices in implementing community
engagement strategies and leading policy at headquarters.
I am also pleased to introduce Mr. Andrej Verity, Information
Management Officer at the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs and a co-founder of the Digital Humanitarian Network.
Alexander brings over 17 years of experience in information management
field, with at last 13 years in the humanitarian realm.
And finally, it is my pleasure to introduce the moderator of today’s
panel, Ms. Lara Setrakian, who, for so many of you, I am sure, needs
no introduction. Lara is the CEO and Executive Editor of News Deeply,
a network of digital media platforms that convene stakeholders and
passionate communities on the world's biggest challenges, previously,
a correspondent for ABC News and Bloomberg Television, covering the
Middle East. Lara is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum
and a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
With that, I am very happy to pass the floor to Lara, who will take
this conversation forward.
I thank you”.
