ARMENIA 1 and 2 December 2021, Geneva Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues 15th session: Review. Rethink. Reform. 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Minority Rights Item 4: Reform: Filling the gaps in the implementation of the human rights of minorities Delivered by Mr. Nairi Petrossian, Deputy Permanent Representative Chair, Armenia extends its appreciation for the organization of the 15th session of the Forum. We thank the distinguished speakers for their insightful remarks. We also welcome the focus on the 30th anniversary of the Declaration since it gives us an opportunity to evaluate the situation of minorities and their rights. We can’t agree more with the Secretary General that we have not been dealing with gaps – we have been dealing with outright inaction and negligence in the protection of minority rights. It is worrying that minorities in many countries are disproportionally the targets of hate speech and hate crimes. Hate speech and incitement to violence should be treated as a number one warning sign against the conflicts unfolding or looming on the horizon. In our days this scourge is further amplified by the social networks, instantaneous and unrestricted dissemination of any information by their means. In this context we noted that several speakers addressed the issue of misuse of new technologies, in particular social media platforms, and disinformation and misinformation spread through them. This has been an issue of major concern widely discussed both at this and other multilateral fora for the past several years. Armenia is glad to report as a penholder for the HRC resolution on Prevention of Genocide that this issue was made a central for the HRC resolution 49/9 adopted on 31 March 2022. This topic will also be the major theme of discussion for the 4th Global Forum against the Crime of Genocide to be convened in Yerevan on 12 and 13 December 2022.