Since 1970, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) has been active in the United Nations. Firmly committed to the humanitarian credo of the Armenian Relief Society and the principles of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ARS, as an internationally established Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) was admitted into the ranks of UN’s Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC) on May 28, 1998 - by a happy coincidence on the very day of the 80th Anniversary of Armenia’s Independence. Through its active participation in various committees, ARS remains a champion of human rights, social justice, and universally endorsed values and principles.
Presently, the ARS is involved in programs promoting world peace, particularly in the field of Human Rights. It supports the rights of minority groups, striving for self-rule, to achieve the necessary security guaranteeing them their dignity as members of a free society, free of the threat of aggression and the use of force in resolving conflicts. Based on these principles, the ARS will continue its activities in the UN, alongside its humanitarian work.
The ARS has a worldwide presence in the UN with small teams who participate on a regular basis in various committee meetings or related functions at the UN Centers in Geneva, New York, and other locations.
Working Group on Girls (WGG) | Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) | Committee of Social Development (CSocD)
Committee on Migration (COM) | Committee on the Rights of Children | NGO Health Committee
Through its active participation in various committees, ARS remains a champion of human rights, social justice, and universally endorsed values and principles.
UN and ARS - Booklet
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Special Workshops, Presenting the themes of “Protecting Children from Exploitation” and “Preparing Leadership for the Future”
New York, USA
Conference with the theme “Prejudice Against Children”
Nicosia, Cyprus
Annual Meetings of NGO/DPI projects
New York, USA
NGO/DPI 55th Annual Conference with the theme “Rebuilding Societies: Emerging from Conflict.” During this Conference, the ARS had its workshop titled “Starting from Less than Zero - Opportunities to Rebuild the Economy”
New York, USA
First ARS Conference, under the auspices of Dr. Bella Kocharian, First Lady of Armenia. Subjects discussed: “Healthy Environment, Healthy Generation, Healthy Future”
Yerevan, Armenia
NGO/UNICEF Conference
Geneva, Switzerland
Conference discussing “The Child: A Victim of War and Messenger of Peace”
Athens, Greece
NGO Conference on Human Rights, Subject: “Violence Against Women”
New York, USA
Post Beijing Conference on “Possibilities of the 5th World Women’s Symposium”, organized by the European Women’s Organizations
New York, USA
“Development and Implementation of Civil Rights States in the UN Millennium Declaration”
New York, USA
UN Preparatory Meeting on issues involving Children
Washington DC, USA
56th NGO/DPI Annual Conference: “Human Security and Dignity: Fulfilling the Promise of the United Nations”
New York, USA
After the 56th Annual Conference: ARS Workshop on “Micro Finance: Empowering Women and Persons with Disabilities Toward Economic Independence”
New York, USA
ARS Conference on “Government Measures to Prevent Human Trafficking, Disability, HIV/AIDS, and Domestic Violence” under the auspices of First Lady of Armenia, Bella Kocharian
Yerevan, Armenia
Report on the Six Important Committees of the UN General Assembly
New York, USA
Second RCN Annual Meeting
Geneva, Switzerland
Triannual CONGO General Meeting
Geneva, Switzerland
UN’s “Best Road to World Governments”
New York, USA
Commision of the Status of Women Annual Symposium
New York, USA
Symposium of NGOs to discuss training and prosperity for the Middle East
Beirut, Lebanon
NGO Forum on Civilized Society
New York, USA
57th NGO/DPI Annual COnference on “Millenium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action”
New York, USA
ARS Workshop on “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care with Special Emphasis on Engaging Boys and Men as Full Partners”
New York, USA
Third Annual NGO Organizations’ Annual Conference sponsored by the ARS, the Armenian Ministry of Health, and the World AIDS Foundation
Yerevan, Armenia
ARS Workshop at the Annual CSW Meeting, in cooperation with US Fund for UNICEF of Armenia: “Violence Against Children” and “Listening to Youth”
New York, USA
A meeting of representatives from Armenian organizations at the UN Headquarters with the Armenian Permanent Representative, Ambassador Arman Martyrosian
New York, USA
Workshop organized by the ARS and UNICEF to discuss the results of the 2002-2003 deliberations on the “Violence Against Children”
New York, USA
Reception at the Armenian Permanent Mission to the UN organized by the ARS. Attendees included Ambassador Arman Martyrosian, and his staff, Minister of Social Security, Aghvan Vardanian, Director of Lebanon’s State Statistics, Mrs. Maral Gidanian, ECOSOC’s Mrs. Hanifa Mezwi and their staff members.
New York, USA
Workshop organized by the UNNGO Committee on the subject of “The Traffic of Children”
New York, USA
Open Forum on “HIV/AIDS”
New York, USA
58th Annual DPI/NGO Conference with the theme “Voices of Peace, Cooperation, and Renewal”
New York, USA
Agreement signed between the ARS and UNICEF to develop programs designed to reduce violence against women and children of socially vulnerable families in Armenia.
Agreement reached with UNDP to renovate the heating system of the No. 4 School in Charentsavan, Armenia
Agreement signed between the ARS and the Medical School of the University of Massachusetts to initiate educational and preventive programs in the ARS “Mother and Child Health and Birthing Center in Akhurian, Armenia to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. The AIDS Foundation was approached and a sum of $51,000 was secured for the project. The ensuring program was extended with an additional allocation of $10,000.
ARS Secured a grant of $25,767 from UNDP to develop methods for the early identification of childhood disabilities in Armenia, in cooperation with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health.
On the Occasion of the 100th Annniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a week-long event at the United Nations Headquarters ranging from lectures, forums, dinners and an Armenian exhibition
New York, USA
One Day Conference on human right topics at the Salvation Army Headquarters
New York, USA
UN CSW 59th Session event titled "Women and Diaspora: From Past to Post-2015”, a conference in partnerships with the Permanent Missions of Armenia and Cyprus to the United Nations, University of the Highlands and Islands, and Diaspora African Women’s Network (DAWN)
New York, USA
2017 Geneva Peace Week: ARS co-sponsored event with Fondation Surgir titled “The Ravages of War in Syria on Refugees”
Organized a tour of the UN NY Headquarters for the Students of the Hovnanian School of New Jersey on the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime
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