On
December 26, the annual summary session of the Expert Council on the Protection
of the Rights of Servicemen under the Human Rights Defender was held.
Welcoming
the members of the Expert Council, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of
Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, highlighted their professional engagement and
contribution to the comprehensive analysis of existing problems in the field of
the protection of the rights of servicemen, the articulation of those issues,
the elaboration of possible avenues for their resolution, and the
identification of relevant working priorities.
The
Defender emphasized the importance of institutionalized and continuous
cooperation with non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders, and
independent sectoral experts, including within the framework of the Expert
Council.
Ms.
Anahit Manasyan presented an overview of the extensive activities carried out
by the Human Rights Defender's Office during the year.
"This
year, our activities were substantially expanded, especially with regard to
monitoring. In this specific field alone, we have conducted more than two dozen
monitoring visits, including visits to combat positions and military units,
carried out activities within the framework of the conscription process and
received numerous applications. The Office has collected highly significant
statistical data, according to which approximately 70 percent of cases were
resolved through communication with state bodies." The Defender further
emphasized that the past year was also characterized by active engagement in
the submission of official positions on draft legal acts relating to the
sector, as well as participation in the processes of their development and
adoption.
The
Head of the Division for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemen and their
Family Members of the Human Rights Defender’s Office, Ms. Vanuhi Karapetyan,
presented a detailed overview of the issues identified by the Human Rights
Defender’s Office, as well as the dynamics of applications in the area of the
protection of the rights of servicemen and their family members.
She
noted that during 2025, more than 900 written and oral complaints were under
consideration by the Division for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemen
and Their Family Members of the Human Rights Defender’s Office. At the
initiative of the Defender, discussion procedures were conducted with respect
to a number of issues, including cases of deaths occurring under non-combat
conditions. The results of 22 visits carried out to various military
institutions were also presented, along with a statistical overview compiled on
the basis of the analysis of applications and complaints, categorized according
to the nature of the issues raised. These included matters related to medical
examinations and assessments, cases of violence and ill-treatment in the armed
forces, social rights, and other areas, as well as the actions undertaken by
the Human Rights Defender’s Office and the results achieved in this regard.
An
active and substantive discussion was held on the issues presented, during
which the need for a systematic and comprehensive approach to addressing a
number of issues was noted.
Summarizing
the session, the Human Rights Defender, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, stated that, with
a view to ensuring a thorough and substantive discussion of the issues raised,
the Human Rights Defender’s Office will initiate, in the near future, an
expanded discussion with the participation of competent state bodies with
relevant decision-making authority, as well as representatives of civil
society.
The
Defender expressed her appreciation to the members of the Council for the
productive discussions and, taking the opportunity, extended her
congratulations on the upcoming New Year.
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