RA President: Armenia highly values the role of the UN system and its  development partners in supporting inclusive social protection

ArmInfo. In recent decades, Armenia has implemented comprehensive socioeconomic reforms aimed at building an inclusive, sustainable, and people-centered  state., as stated by RA President Vahagn Khachaturyan, when addressing the Second UN World Conference on Social Development during his working visit to the State of Qatar.

According to his statement, as quoted by the presidential press  service, within the framework of the National Development Strategy,  the Strategic Labor Plan (2025-2031), and the Social Protection  Strategy, Armenia will expand opportunities for decent work,  strengthen the social protection system, and ensure access to  essential services for all, especially the most vulnerable groups.  "Our vision of progress is based on human dignity, equality, human  rights, and social justice. We believe that a just, peaceful, and  inclusive society is one in which people are empowered and everyone  has the opportunity to learn, work, live in peace, and participate in  the common good. Our efforts are focused on creating quality jobs,  expanding women's economic empowerment, and integrating youth and  vulnerable groups into the labor market.  Investments in human  capital development lay the foundation for sustainable and inclusive  economic growth," Khachaturyan said.

He added that the establishment of an emergency social support system  has enabled the introduction of new approaches aimed at empowering  the most vulnerable segments of the population, helping them  transition from social dependence to self-sufficiency through income  generation. High-quality, inclusive, and accessible education is a  key prerequisite  for human capital development and one of the  priorities of the Armenian government. "Highly educated and talented  people have always been the competitive advantage of our country and  the backbone of the economy. In this regard, resources allocated to  education have increased by more than 25 percent in recent years. The  "300 Schools and 500 Kindergartens" program aims to build and  reconstruct educational institutions by 2026. To ensure adequate  nutrition and health of schoolchildren, the government has introduced  the "School Meals Program" at the national level and is successfully  implementing it in all regions of Armenia and the capital. Yerevan  will be included in the program in cooperation with the World Food  Program. At the same time, we recognize that peace and security are  fundamental prerequisites for social development. 

A peaceful regional environment and good-neighborly relations  facilitate the free movement of ideas, goods, and people, opening new  avenues for mutually beneficial development. The Armenian  government's Crossroads of Peace initiative aims to promote not only  transport links and trade, but also intersocietal connections and  people-to-people contacts. Armenia's democratic transformation and  its commitment to the principles of good governance, transparency,  and the rule of law continue "We are working to increase the  transparency of our public institutions, expand participation in  decision-making, and enhance the accountability of our governance. In  this way, we strive to ensure that economic progress directly  translates into social well-being and justice for all citizens," the  Armenian President noted.

He noted that today, humanity faces global challenges: inequality  between and within societies, poverty, pandemics, and climate change.  "All of this is a reminder that social progress cannot be achieved in  isolation. It requires joint efforts, solidarity, and mutual trust  between peoples. Armenia highly values the role of the UN system and  its development partners in supporting inclusive social protection,  employment promotion, and educational initiatives in our country.  Social development is both a moral obligation and an investment in a  peaceful future. The success of our societies will not be measured  solely by economic growth, but also by how well we are able to uphold  the dignity and rights of every person," Vahagn Khachaturyan  concluded.