On October 13, Defender Ms. Kristinne Grigoryan held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to Armenia, H.E. Ms. Riina Kaljurand. During the meeting, the Defender presented the functions, role and mandate of HRD. She also presented the activity and the objectives of the Council on Women's Rights adjunct to the Defender. Ms. Kristinne Grigoryan emphasized that most NGOs and human rights lawyers involved in the Council on Women's Rights are from RA provinces. The Defender also presented the role of women in the context of security and peace, highlighting the importance of more active engagement of women in law enforcement bodies.
During the meeting, reference was made to the consequences of the military attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia on September 13-15, during which more than 7,600 people were displaced from 3 provinces, including 1,437 children, 99 persons with disabilities. She noted that vital civil infrastructures, including schools, were targeted; 7 civilians were injured, and 4 were killed.
Ms. Kristinne Grigoryan also presented the facts of the torture of Armenian prisoners of war, extrajudicial killings and mutilations of captives by the Azerbaijani armed forces, which are summarized in the ad hoc reports published by the Defender.
In addition, the Defender introduced the regional subdivisions of the Office of Human Rights Defender and emphasized their role in the ongoing activities. She also noted that the opening of the 5th territorial subdivision is envisaged for the upcoming year.
The Ambassador expressed her gratitude to the Defender and the HRD staff for their work, fact-finding activities and statements.
The parties expressed their readiness to continue effective and reliable cooperation.
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