On
the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Defender's Office, a
two-day high-level international conference titled "Ombuds Institutions
and NHRIs amid Turbulent Times: Resilience and Challenges" took place.
The
event, held on October 21-22, was attended by the heads and representatives of
Human Rights Defender institutions and equality bodies from over 15 Council of
Europe member states. Mr. Michael O’Flaherty, the Commissioner for Human Rights
of the Council of Europe, delivered the keynote speech in an online format
during the high-level international conference. The event was also attended by
the Chair of the Board of the European Network of National Human Rights
Institutions (ENNHRI), its members and the Secretary-General, as well as by the
representative of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions
(GANHRI).
On
October 21, during the first day of the event, the Human Rights Defender of
Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan delivered a welcoming address. Opening remarks
were made by the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, the President of
Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, and the Speaker of the National Assembly of
Armenia, Alen Simonyan. The opening speech by Maxim Longange, Head of the
Council of Europe Office in Armenia, was also read.
The
conference was attended by representatives from Armenia’s state bodies, civil
society, embassies, international organizations, and experts from leading
European human rights institutions and bodies.
This
high-level conference was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the
establishment of the Human Rights Defender's Office of Armenia, the only
national human rights and ombuds institution in the country.
The
event highlights the critical role of national human rights and ombuds
institutions in the effective protection and promotion of human rights and
freedoms, as well as the importance of ensuring their institutional
independence and impartiality.
This
event is organised by the HRDO of Armenia in cooperation with the Council of
Europe, it is implemented by the CoE’s Division of Co-operation Programmes
under the project “Strengthening human rights safeguards for the displaced
population in Armenia” and by the European Union and Council of Europe joint
programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union
and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the
framework of the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination in
Armenia”.
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