On
December 10, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the high-level
international conference entitled “Ethical Standards in Ensuring Equality and
Preventing Discrimination” was launched.
Welcome
remarks were delivered at the event by the President of the Republic of
Armenia, Mr. Vahagn Khachaturyan; President of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia, Mr. Alen Simonyan; Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia,
Ambassador H. E. Vassilis Maragos; and the Resident Representative of the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia, Ms. Natia
Natsvlishvili. The Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit
Manasyan, delivered an opening speech at the conference.
Anahit
Manasyan’s full speech is provided below.
“Honourable
President of the Republic of Armenia,
Honourable
President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,
Your
Excellencies, Distinguished Ambassadors,
Distinguished
International and Foreign Partners,
Honourable
State Officials,
Ladies
and Gentlemen
I
have the honor to welcome you to the international conference entitled “Ethical
Standards in Ensuring Equality and Preventing Discrimination” held on the
occasion of International Human Rights Day.
The
Human Rights Defender's staff organized the conference within the framework of
the European Union funded “ATHENA: Advancing the Human Rights Agenda and
Enhancing National Authorities” project, implemented jointly by the United
Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, and the
United Nations Population Fund. I express my gratitude to our partners for
continuous, important, and effective cooperation.
This
conference, organized on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, aims
to address an issue that is often overlooked and considered secondary, namely
the role of ethical principles in the protection of human rights, in ensuring
equality and non-discrimination. It also seeks to establish a cooperation
platform between state bodies, civil society, professional communities, and
international partners, aimed at enhancing the mechanisms for human rights
protection, eliminating discrimination, and promoting equal opportunities for
all.
As
the Human Rights Defender, I would like to specifically underline that ethical
standards must play a key role from the perspective of the entire system of
human rights protection, and in this regard, the numerous problems existing in
our environment must be resolved promptly. In this context, I attach great importance
to active cooperation among professionals working in the field of human rights
protection, representatives of state institutions, civil society, and the mass
media, as well as to the adoption of practices in line with ethical standards.
My
speeches addressed to various actors in the field of equality and
non-discrimination are usually critical, taking into account the specific
nature of the mission of the Human Rights Defender’s institution. However,
today I consider it important to build my remarks also on words of gratitude,
addressed to all those stakeholders who are committed to advancing this field
and overcoming challenges through constructive cooperation. At the same time, I
find it essential to ensure a conceptual change in the activities of those
actors whose practices fail to meet the contemporary standards, including
ethical principles, applied in the field of equality and non-discrimination.
In
this context, I would like to note with satisfaction that representatives of
state institutions have been constructive in accepting our criticisms relating
to the field of human rights protection, equality and the guarantee of
non-discrimination, even in sensitive situations where our positions have been
entirely opposed. I consider this circumstance essential from the perspective
of finding solutions to the diverse problems and challenges that exist in the
field of rights.
I
consider it important to underline also that the process of human rights
protection cannot be effective without the direct participation of
rights-holders. In other words, what is important is not only work for, but
also with people. In this context, I consider the involvement of persons with
disabilities, children, representatives of national minorities and other
actors, as well as civil society organizations, in the process of guaranteeing
human rights to be essential.
I
would like to specifically emphasize that the Human Rights Defender’s
institution has fundamentally changed its approaches to the issue, in
particular by intensifying the involvement of various actors and civil society
partners in decision-making processes concerning them, in addressing the existing problems in the
field of equality and non-discrimination, and in other processes.
Similarly,
I encourage all actors with a mandate in the field of human rights protection
to guarantee the direct participation of rights-holders in decision-making and
policy-development processes that affect them.
I
would also like to specifically underline the important role of civil society
in addressing the problems in this field.
I
should note that, alongside the achievements in the field of equality and
non-discrimination, a range of sectoral issues remain relevant. In order to
address these challenges, I consider it critically important to undertake a
comprehensive reform of the human rights education system, overcome deeply
rooted social stereotypes, strengthen the capacities of specialists and
representatives of the competent institutions working in this field, raise
public awareness, and establish ethical standards.
I
would like to particularly emphasize the importance of adopting the draft law
“On Ensuring Equality and Protection from Discrimination”.
Distinguished
colleagues,
In
conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the protection of human rights is
not merely a job or a daily formal activity, but a true mission that must be
carried out with great responsibility and dedication. My work, and that of my
staff, is carried out on the basis of the above-mentioned principles, with the
priority objective of ensuring that people are protected and able to live with
dignity.
I am
grateful to all those who actively cooperate with us and support us in this
work. I also extend my gratitude to our
colleagues who, in accordance with ethical principles and professional values,
raise issues in the field of human rights protection. I am confident that,
through our joint efforts, we will be able to contribute to the most important
goal of building a tolerant, solidarity-based, and equal environment.
I
wish all of us productive discussions and continuous improvement of the human
rights protection system, based on ethical standards.
Thank
you.”
The
conference was organized by the Human Rights Defender’s Office within the
framework of the European Union funded “ATHENA: Advancing the Human Rights
Agenda and Enhancing National Authorities” project, implemented in partnership
with the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children’s
Fund, and the United Nations Population Fund.
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