Promoting protection of human rights and strengthening national  institutions project presented in Yerevan 

ArmInfo.. A presentation of the project "Promoting the protection of human rights and strengthening  national institutions", funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented jointly by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), took place in  Yerevan.

The project, worth $2,585,440, will be implemented by UNDP, UNICEF  and UNFPA from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2027. The goal of the project  is to strengthen human rights and the rule of law. The project, under  the overall coordination of UNDP, will support the institutional  capacity and strategic communication of the Office of the Human  Rights Defender, the RA Ministry of Justice, the RA Ministry of  Internal Affairs, the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the  further development of the Office of the RA Representative on  International Legal Affairs, the RA Chamber of Lawyers and Office of  the Public Defender to protect and promote human rights, advance a  contemporary public policy agenda, and develop the related  capabilities of the staff of these institutions.

Opening the event, the head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Vasilis  Maragos, stated that human rights affect everyone and require  cooperation. According to him, the cornerstone in the protection of  human rights should be the consolidation of common efforts.

At the same time, he expressed the conviction that there cannot be  different interpretations of human rights, since there are already  well-known universal norms in this area.

"The terms of cooperation with the European Union remain the same.  The EU supports this project, since the protection of human rights is  in its genes. In addition, the protection of human rights is one of  the key pillars of Armenia-EU cooperation," Maragos emphasized.

The European diplomat also noted that Armenia, of course, has already  done a lot in reforming the field of human rights, but this does not  mean that all existing problems have been eliminated, and there is  still work to be done. He noted that the project being launched is  designed for three years, and there is political will for its  successful implementation. "We expect serious work in the field of  human rights this year. The principle of equality must be ensured, no  one should consider themselves disadvantaged or deprived in any  corner of Armenia," Maragos said, also emphasizing the importance of  Armenia's implementation of obligations under the Agreement on  Comprehensive and expanded partnership.

In turn, the Ombudsman of Armenia Anahit Manasyan noted that the  targets of the project in the field of human rights were chosen to  include issues that are truly relevant in Armenia. In particular,  issues related to discrimination and equality. In this vein, she  spoke about the efforts made by her office to protect universal human  rights and the successes achieved.

And Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Karen  Karapetyan recalled that since 2018, the Government of Armenia has  declared as its priority the implementation of reforms in the field  of protection of human rights and the rule of law, legally and  steadily moving along the proclaimed path. At the same time, he added  that the cornerstone of the success achieved in this area in Armenia  is the involvement of all interested departments, and of course,  interaction with international partners, including the EU and the UN.