On
April 3, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit
Manasyan, delivered opening remarks at the 8th Award Ceremony for the Best
Journalistic Work on the Topic of Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence Based on
Religious and National Identity.
In
her speech, the Defender emphasized that the protection of the rights of
national minorities is one of the key directions of her work, she highlighted
the importance not only of the effective protection of the rights of national
minorities, but also of their promotion, noting that serious steps are
necessary in this direction.
“I
attach importance to guaranteeing the rights of persons belonging to national
minorities to preserve their national and ethnic identity, traditions,
religion, language and culture and to develop them. Although the state has a
positive obligation, the active involvement of national minority communities is
also extremely important,” said Ms. Anahit Manasyan.
The
Defender emphasized that both the previous and this year's annual reports
included a separate chapter related to the field, and the Public Council for
the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons Belonging to National
Minorities adjunct to the Defender is also actively engaged in its activities.
Opening remarks were also made by the Director
of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Mr. Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan, and Deputy
Minister of Justice, Ms. Anna Karapetyan. Journalists Ms. Shushane Sakunts, Ms.
Knar Khudoyan, and Ms. Armine Gevorgyan were awarded by Mr. Vassilis Maragos
the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Mr. Armen Ghazaryan Deputy Minister
of Internal Affairs, and Ms. Marieke Monroy-Winter the Ambassador of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands to Armenia.
The
annual awards ceremony aims to encourage balanced and sensitive coverage of
tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and diversity in Armenia.
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