Armenia: 13th Human Rights Dialogue held in Yerevan

ArmInfo.On 18 January, the European Union and Armenia held their 13th Human Rights Dialogue in  Yerevan.

Armenia and the EU are committed to strengthening their partnership,  advancing the human rights agenda, delivering tangible benefits to  their citizens and building more inclusive societies. This year's  dialogue focused on a wide range of topics, including gender equality  and non-discrimination, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression  and information, electoral and constitutional reform, the rights of  refugees, as well as strengthening labour rights. 

The EU congratulated Armenia on positive developments related to  human rights since the last Human Rights Dialogue in November 2022,  despite the complex humanitarian challenges and the difficult  security context. An important milestone was the adoption of the  National Human Rights Action Plan (HRAP) 2023-2025. The participants  exchanged views on the ongoing work on a new draft Armenian Gender  Strategy and the draft equality law. The EU welcomed the efforts made  to strengthen the rights of the child and the labour inspection  system. Armenia also updated the EU on its constitutional review  process and the next steps, and on further plans to improve the  electoral system. 

Commending Armenia for positive developments, the EU noted that the  human rights situation in the country should further be improved, for  instance regarding detention conditions, discrimination against  persons with disabilities, violence and discrimination based on  sexual orientation and gender identity, domestic violence and hate  speech. Participants also discussed human rights in the law  enforcement bodies and armed forces.

The EU and Armenia discussed cooperation on issues related to human  rights and fundamental freedoms in multilateral fora, such as the  United Nations, the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and committed to  strengthening this collaboration. The EU welcomed i.a. the  ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court  (ICC) and the ratification of Protocol N. 13 to the Council of Europe  Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental  Freedoms, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all  circumstances. The EU pledged to support capacity building on ICC  rules and procedures within relevant government agencies of Armenia.

Armenia informed the EU about the humanitarian and human rights  impact of Azerbaijan's large scale military offensive in Nagorno  Karabakh in September 2023 and the subsequent forced displacement. In  this regard the Parties reiterated their previously stated positions.  Armenia stressed the importance of prompt implementation of the  legally binding decisions of the International Court of Justice to  this end. Participants discussed the efforts to address the immediate  needs of over 100.000 refugees and facilitate their socio- economic  inclusion, which in mid-term perspective requires significant  assistance. The EU recalled the EUR 12.2 million humanitarian  assistance and EUR 15 million budget support it provided, and  committed to continue supporting Armenia's long-term socio-economic  resilience, including through financial and technical assistance on  key areas of human rights.

The Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr  Hovhannisyan. The EU delegation was headed by Dorota Dlouchy-Suliga,  Head of Division in the European External Action Service.  The Human  Rights Defender of Armenia Anahit Manasyan also participated in the  dialogue.