The Human Rights Defender of Armenia met with Christophe Poirel and Leyla Kayacik
Human Rights Defender Ms. Kristinne Grigoryan held a meeting with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees, Ms. Leyla Kayacik, in the framework of her working visit to Strasbourg.
On September 28, Human Rights Defender Ms. Kristinne Grigoryan held a meeting with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees, Ms. Leyla Kayacik, in the framework of her working visit to Strasbourg.
The Defender Ms. Grigoryan presented to Ms. Kayacik the challenges of ensuring the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Armenia, including those who arrived in Armenia from the Russian Federation and Ukraine, and the activities carried out by the Defender’s office in that particular direction.
Ms. Leyla Kayacik presented her mandate and emphasized the importance of the work and cooperation with both states and human rights protection institutions within the framework of the fulfillment of the CoE conventional obligations.
Referring to the report published by Human Rights Defender on September 16, Ms. Grigoryan referred to the necessity to ensure the living conditions of at least 7,600 people displaced from Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor provinces as a result of the Azerbaijani military attack, emphasizing the importance of special protection of women, older persons, children and persons with disabilities that constitute the majority of displaced persons.
The parties reached an agreement to continue cooperation in the direction of definite actions, including supporting the Defender’s institution.
The Human Rights Defender of Armenia held another meeting with the Director of Human Rights of the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, Mr. Christophe Poirel.
During the meeting with the Director of Human Rights of the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Mr. Christophe Poirel, the projects implemented jointly with the Office of the Human Rights Defender within the mandate of the Directorate General were discussed, particularly, reference was made to the results of the “Human Rights and Women in the Armed Forces in Armenia” project and the importance of its continuation.
In her speech, the Defender highlighted the high level of continuous fruitful cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, emphasized the need to adopt and launch a new Armenia-CoE Action Plan, as well as presented recommendations on developing new program directions within the framework of other possible mechanisms of the Council of Europe aimed at supporting the Office of the Human Rights Defender.
Reflecting on the urgent necessity to ensure the rights of displaced persons as a result of Azerbaijani aggression, the Defender pointed out the importance of providing appropriate support within the framework of the new Armenia-CoE Action Plan 2023-2025 and reaffirmed the willingness of the Defender’s Office to continue putting efforts aimed at deepening the cooperation.
In the photo Leyla Kayacik