Round-table discussion on topic Human Rights in the Armed Forces of Armenia

On April 10-11, on the initiative of the RA NA Standing Committees on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs and on Defense and Security a round-table discussion was on the topic the Human Rights in the Armed Forces of Armenia in Tsaghkadzor.

The Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan, the NA deputies, the experts of the NA Standing Committees, the representatives of different state competent departments, civil society, international organizations and the Staff of the Human Rights Defender.

The purpose of the discussion is to consider issues related to ensuring and promoting human rights in the Armed Forces of Armenia with stakeholders in the field of defense management and oversight.

In his opening speech the Deputy Chair of the Standing Committees on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Rustam Bakoyan presented the necessity of initiating a two-day discussion, emphasizing the effective cooperation established with the National Assembly and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF). He noted that a number of important programmes in the sphere of human rights protection are being implemented within this framewort, highlighting the effective cooperation established with the National Assembly and the Geneva Center for Security Management. He noted that a number of important programs in the field of human rights protection are being implemented within this framework.

The Deputy Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Armen Khachatryan attached importance to such discussions, noting that they provide an opportunity to discuss issues from different perspectives and to study solution options more comprehensively.

According to the Human Rights Defender of Armenia Anahit Manasyan, issues related to ensuring human rights in the Armed Forces and, in general, in the security sector are among her priorities. She emphasized that both she and the representatives of the Օmbudsman's staff visit the border troops of the National Security Service, the military units of the Ministry of Defense, the military commissariats, hospitals, combat positions, and attend sessions of medical committees.

The Deputy Head of Europe and Central Asia Division of the Operations Department at Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) Antje Fritz thanked the NA Standing Committees and the participants for organizing an effective discussion. She presented the functions of the DCAF, noting that they closely cooperate with the Government of Armenia.

During the two-day discussion, the participants touched upon the role of Parliament in ensuring human rights in the Armed Forces, the work to prevent and respond to deaths in non-combat situations in the Armed Forces, strengthening the role of Ombudsman institutions to prevent human rights abuses in the defense and security sectors, and other issues.

The event was organized by DCAF within the framework of support for democratic security and defense sector reforms in Armenia, implemented with a grant from the German Federal Foreign Office.