The Human Rights Defender of Armenia

‼️ A new building will be allocated to the Human Rights Defender's Office. ‼️ "On November 15, the Government adopted a decision 'On the Repossession and Consolidation of Real Estate,' which stipulates that the real estate located at 5 Moskovyan Street in Yerevan will be allocated to the Office of the Human Rights Defender." The mentioned decision is of great importance, as it marks the first step in addressing the long-standing issue of ensuring the necessary building conditions for the proper functioning of the Human Rights Defender’s Office. At the same time, it is important that, following the decision on the allocation of the building, the process of preparing the building for operation, including renovations, begins. The insufficient space and infrastructure of the administrative building of the Human Rights Defender’s Office create practical difficulties in terms of the effective functioning of the institution. This specifically refers to the need to properly organize the process of improving the working conditions of the Office and recruiting staff, as well as ensuring the proper and confidential conduct of private interviews with individuals who have submitted applications and complaints to the Defender. It also involves ensuring the accessibility of the building for persons with disabilities and providing for the organization of events in the Office building with the participation of the latter. Moreover, the issue of ensuring the necessary and sufficient building conditions for the Human Rights Defender’s Office follows from international standards. The UN Principles relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions (Paris Principles) stipulate that a national human rights institution should have an infrastructure capable of ensuring the smooth implementation of the institution's activities, with adequate funding.

📖 Ms. Anahit Manasyan Held a Master Class in the European University of Armenia 📢 On November 15, the Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan held a master class in the European University of Armenia titled "Challenges of Human Rights Protection in the Modern World". ✅ Welcoming the participants, Ms. Anahit Manasyan presented the mission of the Human Rights Defender, the key areas and priorities of work, the scope of her competence, and emphasized the importance of guaranteeing the Defender's independence. 🔺“Such meetings with young people are very important to me, as they provide an opportunity to exchange experiences, highlight existing problems in the field of human rights protection, and work together to find solutions. Since I teach and interact with students on daily basis, I prioritize education and professionalism," said Ms. Anahit Manasyan. 🔺 ✅ In the context of human rights in the modern world, the Defender highlighted the politicization of law as one of the main challenges. Another serious issue raised was the frequent violations of professional ethics and codes of conduct by legal professionals. ✅ From the perspective of human rights protection, Ms. Anahit Manasyan also highlighted as a serious problem the common practice in our society of dividing rights into 'important' and 'unimportant. 🔺"When attention is focused on a specific area of law, such as the rights of persons in vulnerable situations, it is often publicly regarded as an unimportant field of law and a secondary activity. This distorts perceptions of the human rights protection system," emphasized the Defender. 🔺 ✅ Ms. Anahit Manasyan addressed the inadmissibility of inciting hatred and various forms of intolerance, emphasizing that these phenomena pose a serious threat to human rights protection. She also touched upon issues such as freedom of speech, the right to freedom of assembly, challenges in the education system, the proportionality of the use of force by the police, and other related concerns. ✅ Within the framework of the master class, the students also addressed their questions to the Defender. 📌 At the end of the meeting, Ms. Anahit Manasyan thanked the participants for an active and meaningful discussion, emphasizing her commitment to making such discussions continuous."

🔻 The workshop titled "Limitations and opportunities. Challenges of refugees and asylum seekers in Armenia", organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Human Rights Defender of Armenia was held on November 19. 🔻 ☑️ The Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan and Officer-in-Charge of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia Ms. Monica Sandri gave an opening speech. ☑️ Ms. Anahit Manasyan mentioned that although the problems associated with refugees in the human rights protection system are among the most important, however, they are often not given due attention. ➡️ "All issues related to the protection of the rights of refugees are under my immediate attention. The people forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh for a separate group, the protection and promotion of whose rights is also of paramount importance to me. It is very important that the State ensures the rights of refugees in an adequate manner, especially in the context of protecting the health of refugees, ensuring the right to education, employment opportunities and security" stated Ms. Anahit Manasyan. ☑️ The event was attended by deputies of the National Assembly, Deputies of the Ministers of Health, and Labour and Social Affairs, Heads and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia, representatives of the Human Rights Defender’s Office, representatives from the MIA Migration and Citizenship Service, and Unified Social Service, "Mission Armenia" NGO who work with refugees, representatives from civil society, and refugees and forcibly displaced persons. ☑️ During the workshop, a panel discussion was held titled "Current Human Rights Situation of Refugees in Armenia". ☑️ The participants touched upon the main problems related to the protection of the rights of refugees and best practices in overcoming them, to the achievements and existing challenges in the field of human rights of the refugees, to the current state of protection of their rights in our country, and the gaps in legislation. ☑️ It should be highlighted that refugees and forcibly displaced persons, who were invited to the workshop, spoke about their problems. We consider it necessary to emphasize that issues related to the protection of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers were addressed in the annual report of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia. Analysis of the legislation related to the provision and protection of the rights of the latter indicate that the problems, being of a systemic nature, continue to remain relevant and are under the attention of the Defender. See more https://lnkd.in/eCdmf3xu

📖 Anahit Manasyan received students from the Liberal Politics School 📢 On November 18, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan hosted the 11th grade students of the Liberal Politics School. ✅ The Defender emphasized the importance of such meetings with youth as a platform for exchanging experiences, identifying existing challenges in the field of human rights protection, and collaboratively finding solutions. ✅ During the meeting, held in a Q&A format, the students, who are from various universities, discussed their concerns about human rights protection with the Defender. ✅ Anahit Manasyan addressed the challenges in the field of human rights protection, highlighting two key issues: the politicization of rights and the low level of professional ethics. ✅ She particularly emphasized frequent violations of professional principles of ethics and codes of conduct by legal specialists as a serious problem. ✅ Another significant challenge, according to Anahit Manasyan, is the widespread categorization of rights in society and the social environment into "important" and "unimportant." 🔺"When attention is focused on certain areas of rights, such as the rights of individuals in vulnerable situations, many publicly present these as secondary or less important. This distorts the perception of the human rights protection system," stated Anahit Manasyan.🔺 ✅ The Defender also highlighted the importance of collaboration with the Liberal Politics School, describing it as an excellent platform for discussing various topics and exchanging information. ✅ The priorities of the Human Rights Defender's Office, its functions, activities, and scope of authority were also presented during the meeting. 📌 It is worth noting that 35 students from the Liberal Politics School, including alumni from previous cohorts, participated in the event.

🔺 Anahit Manasyan delivered a welcome speech at the discussion of the national report of the Republic of Armenia under the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). 🔺 📢 The Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan delivered a welcome speech during the discussion of the national report of the Republic of Armenia under the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). ✅ Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vahan Kostanyan, Acting Resident Coordinator of the UN Office in Armenia Christine Weigand, and Acting Chair of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Rustam Bakoyan also addressed welcome speeches. ✅ During the discussion, which included representatives of civil society, the draft report, its themes, structure, and key directions were presented. Anahit Manasyan emphasized the exceptional importance of all UN mechanisms in strengthening democracy and the human rights protection system in any country. ➡️ "The tools and recommendations presented by various UN bodies are crucial for me, as the Human Rights Defender, in determining the directions necessary for the development of the human rights protection system, as they are based on specific international standards," the Defender stated. ✅ Anahit Manasyan noted that effective cooperation has been established between UN partners and the Defender's Institution, enabling the development of solutions to numerous issues. ➡️ "It is particularly important to adopt an appropriate approach to equality and anti-discrimination in the context of Armenia's reality, especially regarding the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups. This year, we have paid special attention to the prevention of torture, given the numerous challenges, particularly in the investigation of cases involving torture and other forms of ill-treatment, which I have consistently addressed in various formats," the Defender added. 📌 Anahit Manasyan also expressed gratitude to civil society and relevant state institutions for their effective collaboration and joint efforts, highlighting the importance of promptly addressing and resolving human rights-related issues raised by the state.

☀️ The message of the Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan on the occasion of Universal Children's Day 🔻 Dear Children Dear colleagues, The day of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, November 20, is celebrated worldwide as the Universal Children's Day to once again emphasize the importance of protecting children's rights. One of the main directions of the activities of the Human Rights Defender is the protection of the rights of the child, which is extremely important for the formation of a stronger and rights-based society. The results of the Human Rights Defender's monitoring demonstrate that there are numerous issues related to the protection of children's rights, including the ones which are systemic. In particular, issues have been registered regarding the identification and prevention of cases of violence against children, and the proper addressing of those cases through effective interdepartmental cooperation and the taking of necessary measures in each case, the protection of children's personal data, ensuring the right to preschool education, the identification and referral of children excluded from compulsory education, the protection of the rights of children with disabilities, the right to live in a family environment, and a number of other rights. To identify the issues and find ways to resolve them, my Office and I regularly hold meetings with students in educational institutions and children in care and protection institutions in different regions of Armenia, presenting their rights and mechanisms to apply independently to the Defender. As a result, the awareness of the children about the institution of the Human Rights Defender has increased, and children independently apply to the Defender to protect their rights, raising issues related to bullying and mistreatment, as well as a number of other issues related to their rights. Protecting the best interests of the child should be a priority for us, we should have exemplary behavior, taking into consideration that children often do not listen to us, but imitate us perfectly. Dear children, I congratulate you once again on your holiday. May your world of childhood be filled with sincere smiles and love. THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER OF ARMENIA ANAHIT MANASYAN

‼️ The Human Rights Defender's alternative public report on the state of children's rights protection has been published. ‼️ 📢 The Human Rights Defender's Alternative report on the status of commitments under the UN convention on the rights of the child and its optional protocols by the Republic of Armenia has been published. ➡️🔗 https://lnkd.in/edT45Bjr ✅ The report aims to assess how well the Republic of Armenia has implemented and continues to implement the obligations set by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols, as well as the recommendations presented in the 2013 Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The report covers the period from 2013 to 2024. ✅ The report presents the issues, assessments, and recommendations recorded by the Human Rights Defender regarding the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken by the state. The assessments and recommendations provided by the Human Rights Defender in the report are reflected in the 2024 Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

‼️ Anahit Manasyan met with the Governor of Syunik Robert Ghukasyan in Kapan. ‼️ 📢 On November 13, the Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan met with Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasyan in Kapan. ✅ They discussed human rights issues in the region, as well as social and economic challenges. Anahit Manasyan also raised concerns that had been presented to her in recent days by citizens and representatives of non-governmental organizations in Syunik. ✅ In her remarks, the Defender emphasized the constructive cooperation established with the Governor of Syunik, as a result of which several identified issues are being quickly resolved. 🔺"Protecting the rights of residents in the regions is a key focus of my work. During visits to various communities, we observe a range of issues of different types. In this context, I consider efficient cooperation with local governance bodies essential, as it allows issues to be resolved more promptly. It is necessary to have an effective system in place to ensure the proper realization of rights for every citizen," stated the Defender. 🔺 ✅ Anahit Manasyan expressed her commitment to addressing the discussed issues within the scope of her mandate. 📌 The Defender also expressed confidence that through joint efforts, systems affecting people’s lives in the region would continue to improve.

🇦🇲🇩🇪 Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Armenia. 🔺 Ms. Anahit Manasyan congratulated her on taking on the important task and wished her success in her work. 🔺 ✅ The Defender presented to the guest the important directions of the Human Rights Defender's activities, which, inter alia, include: the rights of women, children, national minorities, persons with disabilities, as well as human rights in the armed forces, within the framework of criminal proceedings, civil and socio-economic rights, combating hate speech, the atmosphere of intolerance, discrimination, and the protection of the rights of forcibly displaced persons. ✅ During the meeting, the Defender also addressed, among other things, the prevention of domestic and gender-based violence, the need to ratify the Istanbul Convention, and the importance of work on the protection and promotion of women's rights. 📌 In turn, Ambassador Claudia Bush expressed her gratitude to the Defender for the reception and emphasized the role of the Defender's Office in fulfilling its mission of protecting human rights.

🔺 On November 11, the Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan participated in parliamentary hearings in the National Assembly on the topic “Questions to be Presented on Children's Rights in Armenia’s Fourth National Report within the Framework of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Process.”🔺 ➡️ The discussion was initiated by the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National Assembly, considering that in 2025, Armenia’s national report will be reviewed in Geneva during the fourth cycle of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review. 🔺 ✅ In her speech, Anahit Manasyan addressed several issues related to children's rights, which are also included in the annual and ad hoc public reports of the Human Rights Defender and in the alternative report submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. She first touched upon issues related to identifying, preventing, and responding to cases of violence against children, emphasizing the importance of addressing these through effective interdepartmental cooperation and taking necessary measures for each case. “Our monitoring results indicate that the competent authorities often lack the necessary professional knowledge and skills to identify, prevent, and respond to various cases of violence against children, and proper interdepartmental cooperation is not ensured,” stated Anahit Manasyan. ✅ The Human Rights Defender also discussed several issues related to the protection of children's personal data, ensuring the right to preschool education, identifying and directing children who are left out of compulsory education, safeguarding the rights of children with disabilities, the right to live in a family environment, and organizing alternative care. ✅ “Children may not always listen to us, but they imitate us perfectly. Therefore, besides uniting our efforts to protect their rights, it is essential that each of us exhibits exemplary behavior for children,” stated Anahit Manasyan. 📌 In conclusion, the Defender emphasized that there are numerous challenges within the child rights protection system, and they can only be resolved through joint efforts.