History

The law of the Republic of Armenia “On Human Rights Defender” was adopted on October 21, 2003. On february 19-th 2004 Mrs. Larisa Alaverdyan was appointed  Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia by RA President`s decree and  began her duties on March 1, 2004.

LARISA ALAVERDYAN

Larisa Alaverdyan was born in 1943 in Baku. After graduating from the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute, she worked in Baku Children’s Home No.2, and thereafter in a school.  In 1968 she moved to Yerevan and worked in various scientific research institutions.

She was the founder of the “Artsakh” Union of Co-Patriots in 1988 and its executive secretary. She launched the work with the first groups of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan dealing with various issues such as reception, registration, providing living conditions and employment. From 1990 to 1995 she was the Chief Expert of the Supreme Council of Armenia’s Commission on Artsakh issues.

In 1991 she founded, and until 2004 she was the executive director of the non-governmental organisation "Fund Against Violation of Law". Under her leadership, the organization developed and implemented numerous projects, the main goal of which was the location and repatriation of hostages, those soldiers missing in action and prisoners of war, as well as the provision of legal, medical-psychological and moral assistance, all the while protecting their human rights. Thanks to the efforts of the organization, nearly 1,800 hostages, combatants and prisoners of war have been returned to their homeland. Through Mrs. Alaverdyan’s efforts, the first rehabilitation center for victims of organized violence was established in South Caucasus, and continues to operate today.

From 1992 to 1996, due to the initiative “Save the Hostage Children”, scores of Armenian children, hundreds of refugees, hostages, and prisoners of war were returned to their homeland, and members of their families received much-needed legal assistance and moral support. Under the supervision of Mrs. Alaverdyan the organization realized a set of projects directed to rising of the level of human rights protection and civil society development in Armenia, as well as monitoring of the situation as regards the political and civil rights in the South Caucasus region.   

Mrs. Alaverdyan has participated in numerous international and regional conferences. She is the author of numerous publications on human rights. She played an active role in the development of poverty reduction strategy, has prepared a number of expert assessments on the Karabagh issues.

L. Alaverdyan speaks Russian, English, French and Azerbaijani. She is married and has two daughters.