Message
from the Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan on the occasion of the 20th
anniversary of the Human Rights Defender's Office, at the official opening of
the two-day high-level international conference titled "Ombuds
Institutions / NHRIs amid Turbulent Times: Resilience and Challenges"
“Honorable
President of the Republic of Armenia,
Honorable
Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia,
Honorable
Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,
Your
Excellencies, esteemed ambassadors,
International
and foreign partners,
Distinguished
officials,
Ladies
and gentlemen,
It is
my honor to welcome you to the high-level conference dedicated to the 20th
anniversary of the establishment of the Human Rights Defender’s Institution of
the Republic of Armenia, focused on the peculiarities of the activities of
Ombuds institutions and National Human Rights Institutions amid turbulent
times.
This
conference is organized with the support of the Council of Europe within the
frameworks of the projects “Strengthening human rights safeguards for the
displaced population in Armenia” and “Promoting equality and non-discrimination
in Armenia.” I would like to extend my gratitude to our partners from the
European Union and the Council of Europe for our excellent cooperation.
This
high-level conference, dedicated to the jubilee of the Defender’s Institution,
aims to address the cornerstone role of national human rights institutions in
enhancing the system of human rights protection and the promotion of human
rights. It will also highlight the fundamental principles of independence and
impartiality of these institutions, as well as their role in promoting equality
and combating discrimination.
The
event is attended by heads and representatives of ombuds institutions and
equality bodies from over 15 member states of the Council of Europe.
We
are honored to have the online participation and keynote address of Mr. Michael
O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, at this
high-level conference.
We
are also honored to host the Chair, members of the Board and the Secretary
General of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, as well
as the representative of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights
Institutions.
Having
been established 20 years ago, the Human Rights Defender’s Institution of the
Republic of Armenia has traversed a long and challenging path. Today, the Human
Rights Defender’s Office is a well-established institution, with all former
Ombudspersons and all the staff representatives of the institution over the
past 20 years having contributed to the creation of stable traditions.
In my
introductory remarks, I would like to particularly touch upon the issue of
independence of the Human Rights Defender’s Office, which is largely ensured by
the Defender’s adherence to the principles of independence and
depoliticization, as well as the respect shown by public authorities and other
actors for the institution’s independence by avoiding any interference in its
activities.
My
speeches concerning the activities of state bodies are usually critical,
considering the particular nature of my institution's mandate. However, I
consider important to build today’s speech on a note of gratitude,
acknowledging that during my tenure, there has not been a single instance where
we faced attempts of interference by officials of the legislative or executive
branches of power. Moreover, there have been numerous instances where we have
held completely opposing views, yet I have faced no obstacles in freely
expressing and publicly presenting my position, even in the most sensitive
situations. I view this as an extremely significant achievement on the path to
building a rule-of-law state.
At the
same time, there are challenges in the field of the respect for the institution
of the Human Rights Defender by various political and public figures, their
attempts to interfere in the institution's activities and to obstruct the
exercise of powers, and from the viewpoint of implementing the decisions of the
Defender and the positions expressed in relevant documents with a proper
methodology by certain public authorities. We have often raised these issues
publicly and expect their timely and appropriate resolution by all the
actors.
The
Human Rights Defender’s Institution is continuously improving its activities
and work methodology. New tools have been developed to guarantee the apolitical
nature of the institution’s work, the methodology and tools used during the
pre-election period have been entirely reformed, and the format of the
Defender’s work during times of conflict has been redefined, taking into
account also the observations from international partners. I would like to
particularly emphasize the work we have carried out in the field of equality
and non-discrimination, which has been fully transformed during this period and
has become one of the key priorities of the Human Rights Defender.
One
of the essential elements for the effective functioning of the Human Rights
Defender’s Institution is the compliance of office conditions with
international standards. It is undeniable that the building conditions of the
Human Rights Defender’s Institution in Armenia need improvement. In this
regard, I have had numerous discussions with officials from the legislative and
executive branches. I find it important that the executive authority has not
only committed to resolving this long-standing issue but that we are already in
the process of its actual implementation.
From
the perspective of international standards, it is also important to take
appropriate steps to improve the social guarantees and increase the
remuneration of the staff of the Defender’s Office. The significant disparity
that has emerged over time between the remuneration of the Human Rights
Defender's staff and that in other relevant fields presents a challenge in
terms of guaranteeing by the state the attractiveness of work in the field of
human rights protection. This is a circumstance that the state authorities must
appropriately address.
It is
impossible to address all the challenges, problems, and achievements in the
field of human rights protection within the scope of one introductory speech.
These matters will be the subject of detailed discussions during the
conference.
Thus,
in concluding my remarks, I would like to specifically note that for me, the
work of the Human Rights Defender is not merely a formal daily duty but a true
mission and way of life that I carry out with great responsibility and
dedication. Furthermore, I believe in the importance of not only working for
people but also working with people, and I hope that through my efforts and
those of my staff, we are able to contribute in some way to the realization of
the fundamental goal of ensuring people live protected and their dignity
respected.
I
would like to thank all those who actively collaborate with and support us in
this work. I also extend my gratitude to our partners who, by adhering to
ethical principles and professional values, point out the gaps in our work. I
am confident that together, with all of you, we will be able to contribute to
the realization of our most important goal: creating a tolerant and harmonious
environment.
I
would like to mention that the conference is the first in a series of events we
will be holding throughout the year with the participation of various
stakeholders, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the
institution.
I
wish us all fruitful discussions and the continuous improvement of the human
rights protection system.
Thank
you”.
Հայերեն
