On July 17, the Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit
Manasyan participated in the opening ceremony of the EU-funded “Promoting the
Protection of Human Rights and Strengthening National Institutions"
program. The program aims at strengthening the protection of human rights and
the rule of law in Armenia, promoting the protection of human rights through
expert advice, and capacity building policy development and public awareness.
The scope of the program includes the addressing
of key issues such as non-discrimination, prevention of torture, free legal aid
and constitutional reforms, with a special emphasis on strengthening the Human
Rights Action Plan for 2023-2025, and the monitoring and evaluation framework.
In her opening speech, the Defender emphasized that effective cooperation which
has been established with the European Union and the United Nations, within the
framework of various programs related to human rights, as a result of which a
number of projects aimed at reforming the sector was implemented.
"The program which has been initiated today
targets sectoral issues that are a priority for Armenia. I will specifically
address the sphere of equality and anti-discrimination, which is in a very
problematic situation today. It is necessary to implement serious activities in
this regard. I have repeatedly mentioned the need to adopt the law on equality,
which can become an important stimulus for improving and developing the
sphere" stated Ms. Manasyan.
During the event, the Head of the Delegation of the
European Union to Armenia, His Excellency Mr. Vassilis Maragos, the Deputy
Minister of Justice Mr. Karen Karapetyan, the Deputy Minister of Internal
Affairs Ms. Arpine Sargsyan, the Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates Mr. Simon
Babayan, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ms. Tatevik Stepanyan,
the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia Ms. Françoise Jacob, and the
Resident Representative of the UNDP in Armenia Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili also
delivered opening speeches.
The "Promoting the Protection of Human
Rights and Strengthening National Institutions" program focuses on the
institutional capacity of target institutions, including the Human Rights
Defender’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Representative
for International Legal Matters, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the
Ministry of the Interior, the Chamber of Advocates and the Office of the Public
Defender, and improving strategic communication to improve the protection of
human rights, good governance and increase the effectiveness of institutions.
At the conclusion of the event, the ceremony of signing the program was also
held, through which the participants reaffirmed their commitment to support the
successful implementation of the program.
The program " Promoting the protection of
human rights and strengthening national institutions " continues to
develop the results of the “Accountable Institutions and Human Rights
Protection in Armenia” project (2021-2024), which is funded by the European
Union and implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and OSCE.
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