On 20
February, within the framework of a working visit to Shirak Province, the Human
Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, visited Gyumri
High School No. 1.
Accompanied
by the Director of School, Ms. Naira Tadevosyan and the representatives of the
Human Rights Defender’s Office, Ms. Anahit Manasyan toured the school premises,
got acquainted with the conditions of the educational institution, including
the working conditions of the staff and the daily life of the students.
Then,
a meeting was held with students, during which the nature, structure,
implementation and protection mechanisms of international human rights law were
discussed as well as the role and areas of activity of the Human Rights
Defender's Office. Welcoming the participants, Ms. Anahit Manasyan emphasized
the importance of such meetings and underscored the fundamental principles
underlying human rights — tolerance, the recognition of the human being as the
highest value, and the guarantee of human dignity. In this context, the
Defender specifically emphasized the importance of proper education on human
rights.
“Without
adequate education on human rights, there cannot be an adequate system for the
protection of human rights. In any field of activity, I consider
professionalism and integrity to be of primary importance,” stated Ms. Anahit
Manasyan.
The
Human Rights Defender presented to the students the main directions of her
activities and the scope of her mandate, and also spoke about the existing
challenges in the field of human rights protection and the steps undertaken in
this direction.
Reference
was also made to the activities of the Public Council on the Protection of
Children's Rights adjunct to the Human Rights Defender.
The
meeting was held in a Q&A format. Inter alia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan discussed
with the children issues related to equality, combating discrimination, human
rights education, the rights of national minorities and persons with
disabilities, combating domestic violence, freedom of expression and other
related issues.
In
concluding her speech, Ms. Anahit Manasyan stressed the importance of combining
the efforts of each of us to implement positive changes in our own environment
and to overcome problems in the field of human rights protection.
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