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On November 10, the RA NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs organized parliamentary hearings to debate the legislative package on Human Rights Defender (HRD) and other co-draft laws.

Deputies, representatives of the RA Human Rights Defender, civil society and international structures took part in the hearings.

Opening the hearings, the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Elinar Vardanyan noted that by the amended RA Constitution the additional authorities had been given, which should reflect in the RA Law on Human Rights Defender and get corresponding regulations. Mrs Vardanyan informed that the legislative initiative had been debated in the Committee, got endorsement and before debating it at the plenary sitting the Committee made a decision to organize parliamentary hearings aiming at getting remarks and recommendations on the package, which should be taken into consideration during the first to the second reading. Talking about the amendments being made to the law on Human Rights Defender, Elinar Vardanyan highlighted the proposal of having an HRD representative in the National Assembly and Constitutional Court, which according to her, will give opportunity to more effectively work with the HRD and the Office. Mrs Vardanyan also touched upon the important provisions of the draft law.

The RA Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan expressed hope that during the debate recommendations will be voiced, which will help to specify a number of provisions of the draft law.

The RA Deputy Minister of Justice Artur Hovhannisyan has noted that unlike the acting law, the authorities of the Human Rights Defender are extended by the draft law.

The speakers also answered the attendees questions, which related to the HRD’s visits to prisons, the bases of not examining the complaints by the HRD, the use of the administrative responsibility in case of not answering to the HRD’s questions by the state body, and other questions.

The participants of the hearings presented their views and recommendations on the package. In the opinion of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia NGO Chairman Avetik Ishkhanyan, the HRD Office should also have offices in the marzes.

Summing up the hearings, the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Elinar Vardanyan thanked the attendees for active participation and raised questions. Mrs Vardanyan urged the participants of the debate to submit recommendations in written form, which should be debated in the Committee and will be included in the package from the first to the second reading.