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In 2023, compared to the previous year, the number of applications addressed to the Human Rights Defender (HRD) increased, and the number of cases with a positive solution also increased significantly: In 2022, we had 1.282 cases with positive solutions, and in 2023 - 1.922 cases: The RA Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan said this.

At the sitting of April 25 of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, the RA Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan presented the annual report on the activity of the RA Human Rights Defender, the state of protection of human rights and freedoms in 2023 and the annual report of the RA Human Rights Defender as a national prevention mechanism in 2023.

Summarizing the main issues regarding the protection of human rights in Armenia, Anahit Manasyan noted that 512 visits were made to various institutions and places.

Touching upon the achievements recorded on the platform of international cooperation, the rapporteur pointed out that the HRD of Armenia was for the first time included in the management body of the European network of national institutions for the protection of human rights.

Anahit Manasyan spoke about the atmosphere of intolerance and hatred in the society. She mentioned that the problems were recorded and the ways to solve them were outlined. The Human Rights Defender emphasized the role of public and political figures, mass media in countering hate speech and intolerance.

It was mentioned that the structure paid special attention to issues regarding freedom of speech, exercise of the right to freedom of assembly, detention, presumption of innocence, protection of human rights in the Armed Forces: Many problems have been reported.

Anahit Manasyan spoke about the systemic problems recorded in the field of protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

She considered the volume of cases of violence against children and the issues related to them to be worrying, which, according to the rapporteur, should be properly addressed. According to the Human Rights Defender, the RA should have a clear concept and strategy for the prevention of violence against children.

It was pointed out that the report has a special reference to guaranteeing the activities of lawyers: In particular, the cases of violence against lawyers were described and their inadmissibility was underlined.

According to Anahit Manasyan, the report covers the issues related to the rights of our compatriots forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh: The structure provided support and recorded the problems.

Anahit Manasyan answered the MPs’ questions and gave clarifications. In particular, the Deputy Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Rustam Bakoyan inquired whether there is pressure on the Human Rights Defender by the state bodies, and whether it was mentioned in the report.

In response, Anahit Manasyan informed that there were no pressures from the state bodies. “Usually, the biggest threat to the national institutions for the protection of human rights comes from the state bodies themselves, especially from the executive body,” the Defender detailed, expressing hope that this situation will continue.

At the end of the sitting, Rustam Bakoyan thanked Anahit Manasyan for the work done, noting that the representatives of many international structures, conducting monitoring, positively assessed the activities of the RA HRD.

The report was taken as a note.