On
September 30, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit
Manasyan, paid a working visit to the enlarged community of Chambarak in
Gegharkunik Province. The visit began with a meeting with the students of
Chambarak High School.
Welcoming the students, the Defender presented
the activities of the Human Rights Defender’s Office and her mission, spoke
about the rights of children and youth, and recounted her own professional
journey.
“It
is important for the voice of young people to be heard, it is crucial for young
people to have the opportunity to freely express themselves and make their
voices heard, and to raise problems related to their environment” Ms. Anahit
Manasyan noted.
During
the meeting, the students asked the Defender questions and presented their
concerns regarding various issues faced by the community, and human rights
related matters. Problems related to the importance of establishing youth
centers and vocational educational institutions, ensuring an accessible
environment for people with disabilities, the need to develop community
services, in particular, passport services, the need for a permanent notary in
the community, the availability of public transportation as well as problems
related to medical care and services, etc. were raised.
Special
attention was also paid to issues related to children’s rights within the
framework of the discussions.
Ms.
Anahit Manasyan emphasized the responsibility of each person and the need for
joint efforts to implement positive changes in their own environment and to
jointly address and overcome existing problems in the sphere of human rights
protection.
The
Defender also toured the school premises, got acquainted with the building and
working conditions, and the educational process. A visit was also made to the
construction site of a new school being built in the community, where Ms.
Anahit Manasyan got acquainted with the implemented works. The Human Rights
Defender registered that the building conditions of the existing school are
inadequate and require significant improvement. The Defender attaches
importance to the initiative to build a new school, considering it essential to
ensure the timely completion of the construction works.
As
part of the regional visit, a separate meeting was also held with the residents
of Chambarak, including those forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. People
expressed concerns about a number of community issues, including education,
employment, public transportation, the lack of a number of public services, and
other issues. Special attention was paid to the issue of securing housing for
those who were deprived of their homes as a result of the building explosion in
Chambarak this year.
The
Defender assured that the registered issues will be raised and will be
addressed to the relevant competent state bodies.
Subsequently,
Ms. Anahit Manasyan visited the MoD Military Unit N of the Republic of Armenia,
accompanied by the command staff, toured the premises of the military unit and
got acquainted with the living conditions of servicemen, the quality of medical
care and food provided. A wide range of priority issues related to the rights
of servicemen were discussed.
The
results of the regional visit will be summarized, and recommendations will be
addressed to the competent state bodies.
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