On
May 9, on the instructions of the Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan, the
staff of the Defender will work in emergency mode due to the assemblies taking
place in the republic.
The
monitoring of the media and social platforms, as well as the analysis of the
alerts received by the HRD staff, continue.
The
Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan emphasizes that all events in the
Republic of Armenia should develop exclusively democratically, in the context
of unconditional respect and solidarity for human rights, based on the values
of democracy and the demands of the rule of law.
The
right to freedom of assembly and its proper implementation are necessary
prerequisites for the establishment of a democratic state.
The
Human Rights Defender emphasizes once again that the fundamental right to
freedom of assembly refers to peaceful assemblies, and it is the obligation of
the state to guarantee the freedom of peaceful assemblies and the safety of
assembly participants.
At
the same time, it is crucial that the organizers and participants of the
assembly in turn ensure the peaceful course of the gathering, show restraint
and comply with the requirements set by the legislation. Inter alia, it refers
to abstaining from violence, calls for violence, and manifestations of hate
speech during the assembly.
Ahead
of the May 9 meeting, various concerns regarding the realization of the right
to freedom of assembly were presented to the institution of the Human Rights
Defender, including the possibility of the use of force by the police,
preventing participation in assemblies, coercing participation in assemblies,
issues in the context of ensuring the best interests of children within the
framework of the ongoing processes.
In
this regard, the Defender especially emphasizes that the use of
disproportionate force by Police officers is not permissible under any
circumstances. The use of force is possible only in the presence of grounds
established by law, in compliance with the standards related to
proportionality.
It is
very important that in the realization of children's freedom to participate in
assemblies and other rights, the competent state authorities, organizers of
assemblies, participants, mass media and other actors consider essential the
provision of children's rights, including freedom from any kind of violence,
education and other rights, as well as the best interest of the child.
The
Defender also emphasizes that it is inadmissible both to hinder the
participation in the assemblies and to force to participate in the assemblies.
The
Human Rights Defender once again urges the competent state authorities and the
organizers and participants of the assembly to ensure the peaceful course of
the assembly and the existing legal standards in the field.
The
hotline numbers of the Human Rights Defender's Office are 116 and (096) 116100.
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