OSCE Office supports Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office

Joint initiatives to promote human rights protection in Armenia were the focus of a meeting hosted by the OSCE Office in Yerevan with Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s (Ombudsperson) Office on 31 August 2016.

Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Argo Avakov and Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan discussed co-operation in the area of human rights protection, including current legal and practical issues, raising human rights awareness, human rights in policing and contributing to the effective operation of Armenia’s National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.

Among the initiatives outlined during the meeting were television programmes on the Human Rights Defender’s Office (HRDO) activities and on human rights developments in the country; strengthening the capacity of the HRDO Rapid Reaction Group in their daily communication with citizens and law-enforcement bodies; and facilitating the monitoring activities of the National Preventive Mechanism.

“The OSCE Office in Yerevan continuously builds the capacity of the Human Rights Defender’s Office and we hope our joint efforts will promote and protect human rights across the country,” said Avakov. On behalf of the Mission, he donated a laptop computer and a photo camera to the Ombudsman, with the aim of contributing to accurate reporting on preventive visits by the National Preventive Mechanism team.  

“As a Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia I highly appreciate the cooperation and the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan aimed to strengthen human rights protection through increasing the role of the civil society and developing democratic institutions,” said Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan.