On
April 28, at the initiative of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of
Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, a workshop was held, the aim of which was to
strengthen communication between state institutions and the media in the
context of combating hate speech in the public domain.
The
event was organized at the initiative of the Human Rights Defender, within the
framework of the “Partnership for Good Governance” joint program, co-funded by
the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of
Europe, under the “PGG III: Promoting equality and non-discrimination in
Armenia” project.
The
goal of the workshop was to create a platform for constructive dialogue to
highlight the existing problems in the field, promote cooperation between state
institutions and the media, using European best practices, and reduce
manifestations of hate speech in the public environment.
The
opening remarks were delivered by the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of
Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan and the
Head of the Council of Europe Office in the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Maxime
Longangué.
In
her speech, the Defender emphasized the importance of holding discussions in
such a format, highlighting their significance in the development of democratic
processes and the enhancement of public trust.
"Hate
speech is one of the most dangerous phenomena not only in Armenia, but also
around the world. It becomes the basis for numerous issues and crimes. A
person's religious, national, ethnic identity, sex, gender identity, and so on
are targeted. Sadly, I must note that it is quite widespread in our country.
The role of journalists in preventing hate speech is crucial, and such
constructive discussions contribute to solving problems together," noted
Ms. Anahit Manasyan.
According
to the Defender, hate speech is heard everywhere in our country, voiced both by
public and political figures as well as by professional communities. In this
context, the transformation of the education system is very important,
legislative reforms are also necessary, including, in addition to criminal
liability, for example, the provision of administrative liability.
During
the first panel discussion, the Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan,
Minister of Justice, Ms. Srbuhi Galyan, Founding Director of the “Article 3”
Club, Ms. Gayane Abrahamyan, and Head of the News Program of the Public Radio
of Armenia, Ms. Liana Yeghiazaryan addressed the issues of strengthening
communication between state institutions and the media, discussed European
standards and best practices, and addressed various issues related to hate
speech.
Then,
international experts from the Council of Europe, Ms. Sara Vasile and Ms.
Ekaterine Skhiladze, spoke about the role of the Human Rights Defender in the
context of hate speech and communication with the media, referring to European
standards and best practices. They also touched on the coverage of vulnerable
groups by the media, including cases of discrimination in accordance with
ethical standards, promoting an inclusive approach, equality and diversity.
During
the second panel discussion, Mr. Tigran Parsilyan, Member of the National
Assembly, Ms. Nina Pirumyan, Secretary General of the Human Rights Defender's
Office, Ms. Siranush Sahakyan, human rights lawyer, and Mr. Muraz Shamoyan,
Head of the Yezidi Center for Human Rights, discussed issues related to the
coverage and communication of sensitive topics by the media in the context of
the prevention of hate speech and discrimination.
The
workshop also addressed the role of the Human Rights Defender in the context of
combating hate speech, eliminating discrimination, and communicating with the
media.
The
event was attended by representatives of state bodies, media, Members of
Parliament, a member of the Supreme Judicial Council, international partners,
as well as national and international experts, including in an online format.
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