On
March 20, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan
delivered a welcome speech at the first session of the System Council of the
“Protection of Human Rights in Biomedicine III” project.
As
part of the event, the Armenian version of the HELP program’s "Mental
Health and Human Rights" course was presented.
In
her speech, the Defender emphasized that human rights issues in the field of
biomedicine often do not receive primary attention from the general public and
are not always considered an integral part of human rights protection. In this
context, Ms. Anahit Manasyan highlighted the role and objectives of the Council
of Europe initiative in ensuring effective regulation of the sector.
The
Human Rights Defender also addressed the issue of ratifying the Oviedo
Convention, noting that while the state’s efforts in this direction are
commendable, they should not be seen as the sole prerequisite for
comprehensively resolving the sector’s challenges.
"It
is essential to ensure a comprehensive and systematic approach to introducing
and properly implementing effective mechanisms and ethical standards for the
protection of human rights in the biomedical and healthcare sectors. In this
context, professional training programs play a crucial role in increasing legal
awareness and enhancing the capabilities of specialists in the field. I am
confident that the new course will make a significant contribution to improving
the sector," the Defender said.
In
conclusion, Ms. Anahit Manasyan expressed gratitude to all partners for their
effective cooperation and willingness to work together to address the sector’s
challenges. She reaffirmed her commitment to continuing support and cooperation
within the framework of the Defender’s mandate to further improve the sector.
During
the meeting, participants discussed the Armenian version of the "Mental
Health and Human Rights" course, new directions for cooperation in the
fields of biomedicine and healthcare in Armenia, as well as issues related to
the ratification of the Oviedo Convention.
Opening
remarks were also delivered by Mr. Maxime Longangué, Council of Europe Head of
Office, Mr. Arsen Torosyan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Healthcare
Affairs of the National Assembly, Mr. Rustam Bakoyan, Acting Chair of the
Standing Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National Assembly
and Mr. Artak Jumayan, the Deputy Minister of Health.
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