The
Council aims to contribute to the effective protection and promotion of the
rights of persons belonging to national minorities as a result of joint work
with the representatives of national minorities and civil society.
On
November 30, the inaugural meeting of the council took place.
Anahit
Manasyan, the Human Rights Defender, Maxim Longange, deputy head of the CE
office, and Maria Papamichail, responsible for political affairs of the
European Union delegation in Armenia, made opening remarks.
Welcoming
the guests, Anahit Manasyan thanked them for participating in the session,
emphasizing the importance of solving the issues related to the protection and
promotion of the rights of national minorities with joint efforts.
"As
the Human Rights Defender, one of my priorities is the protection and promotion
of the rights of national minorities in Armenia. Regarding the rights of
national minorities, the state, among other things has a positive obligation to
guarantee and promote the preservation of their culture, religion, language,
traditions, and in this regard the active involvement of national minority
communities is extremely important. This very platform can become a bridge
between the state and the communities of national minorities," stated the
Human Rights Defender.
The
event was attended by representatives of international organizations, state
administration bodies, deputies of the National Assembly representing national
minorities, and members of non-governmental organizations involved in the
protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities and
included in the council.
Within
the framework of the session, the objectives of the establishment of the public
council, the existing issues in the field, the need to improve the environment
conducive to the preservation of the main elements of national minorities'
identity: religion, language, cultural heritage, and traditions, as well as the
works aimed at the adoption of relevant sectoral legislation, were discussed.
The upcoming plans of the activities of the council were also discussed. The
council includes representatives of non-governmental organizations engaged in
the protection of the rights of national minorities living in the Republic of
Armenia, from Yezidi, Russian, Assyrian, Kurdish, Ukrainian, Greek, Georgian,
Belarusian, Jewish, Polish, German communities.
A
non-governmental organization working on the protection of the rights of the
Udi people was also included in the council.
The
session of the Public Council on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of
Persons Belonging to National Minorities adjunct to the Defender was held with
the co-financing of the European Union and the Council of Europe, within the
framework of cooperation with the " Promoting equality and
non-discrimination in Armenia" program of the "Partnership for Good
Governance" project.
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