On July 23, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of
Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan delivered an opening speech at the discussion of
the presentation of the results of the judicial monitoring on the topic “From
Harm to Justice: Guidelines for Reforming the Judicial Investigation of Sexual
Violence Cases in Armenia”.
The event was organized by the Sexual Assault Crisis Center NGO.
The discussion was attended by Member of Parliament Ms. Zaruhi Batoyan, along
with representatives from international organizations, the judiciary, government
institutions, and civil society.
During the discussion, a number of systemic problems encountered
by survivors of sexual violence in their interactions with the justice system
of the Republic of Armenia were identified and discussed.
Special attention was paid to the application of international
standards in judicial processes and the full protection of the rights of
survivors.
In her speech, the Human Rights Defender noted that survivors of
sexual violence should feel that they are not alone in overcoming their
problems: “Such initiatives play an important role in showing survivors of
sexual violence that they are not alone in overcoming their problems. These are
platforms that raise awareness and promote systemic reforms.”
Referring to the sensitive nature of the topic, Ms. Anahit
Manasyan emphasized: “Voicing about sensitive topics is often targeted not only
by the public, but also by professional circles. This is a worrying signal, as
it indicates the existence of deep systemic problems. It is essential to lead
by example and show that such issues must be a priority on the human rights
agenda․”
The Defender also highlighted the role of the sector in terms of
the development of the general system of human rights protection. “Our studies
show that there are even fundamental problems in terms of the perception of the
problem of sexual harassment and sexual violence. This seriously hinders the
effectiveness of mechanisms for preventing violence and supporting survivors.
The logic and content of human rights education in our country must be
reviewed, as the existing models often do not meet international standards,”
Ms. Anahit Manasyan emphasized.
She added that the
only way to solve the problem is through joint, coordinated work: "We, as
an institution that provides institutional protection, will continue to raise
and keep the issues of protecting the rights of persons subjected to sexual violence
in the focus of attention of state bodies. These topics are not only legal, but
also problems affecting human destinies, the solution of which must be carried
out with a combination of high professionalism and ethical standards."
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