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Thematic conversation-discussions regarding human rights have already become a regular and demanded format, which gives an opportunity to raise issues, discuss them and take appropriate steps towards their solution: The Deputy Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Rustam Bakoyan said, welcoming the participants of the discussion initiated by the UN Development Programme Modern Parliament for a Modern Armenia (MAP).

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Vladimir Vardanyan also welcomed the guests, highlighting their participation in this discussion.

The topic of Human rights, ethics: The impact of hate speech and misinformation was presented during the meeting. The participants also talked about the topics related to the rules of parliamentary ethics and conduct, the regulation of hate speech in the legislation of Armenia, the necessity to apply a directed and balanced approach when regulating hate speech.

The experts presented their opinions, the results of the conducted research.

The deputies present at the meeting asked questions to the speakers, voiced their opinions, and presented proposals on solving the problems.

Rustam Bakoyan thanked for organizing the discussion. He noted that similar discussions can be regular. “Our Committee will make all its efforts to cooperate with the deputies on the existing problems, to deepen the dialogue with civil society organizations, independent experts, representatives of national minorities and forcibly displaced persons, in order to improve the legislative regulations, both in the National Assembly and outside of it,” concluding the discussions, Rustam Bakoyan mentioned.

The discussion was held on March 7, in cooperation with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) by the UNDP Modern Parliament for a Modern Armenia project.

The programme is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway and the Government of Sweden, in cooperation with the RA National Assembly.