On November 1, during the protest held in front of the Human
Rights Defender’s Office, participants voiced unacceptable and groundless
statements regarding the Defender and the activities of the Human Rights
Defender’s Office, attempting to undermine the institution's independence and
impartiality.
In light of the above and given the ongoing practice of
interference by specific political actors in the activities of the Defender, we
call on all the actors to refrain from unfounded statements that tarnish the
reputation of the Human Rights Defender’s Office and to act in accordance with
principles of ethics.
In June 2024, the European Network of National Human Rights
Institutions (ENNHRI) issued a statement urging all stakeholders in Armenia to
remain committed to international standards, which, inter allia, pertain to
protecting the Human Rights Defender from any action that could negatively
impact the independence and effectiveness of the Human Rights Defender’s
Office.
The European Network emphasized that the fundamental requirement
of the Paris Principles is that a national human rights institution must be
able to operate without political interference. It was also stressed that all
stakeholders should contribute to fostering public trust in national
institutions that protect human rights. Furthermore, the European Network’s
report on the state of the rule of law in Europe highlighted that the campaign
against the Armenian NHRI is orchestrated.
It should be noted that the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of
the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) recently
awarded the Human Rights Defender’s Office of the Republic of Armenia with the
highest A-level accreditation status for credibility and independence.
This status is granted to ombuds and national human rights
institutions that meet the principles established for the Defender's
activities, are independent, credible, and demonstrate the ability to
effectively investigate and resolve human rights-related issues.
The Sub-Committee reviewed the activities of Armenia's Human
Rights Defender and confirmed that the institution operates in accordance with
the Paris Principles and meets the criteria for the highest-level status.
OFFICE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER OF ARMENIA
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