CoE launches programme to strengthen rights and social safeguards of displaced persons in Armenia

Deputy Minister of Justice Karen Karapetyan discussed with Acting Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan Maxim Longangué the agenda for reforms in the judicial-legal sector, the anti-corruption field and human rights sector, as well as the role of the Council of Europe in these efforts. Maxim Longangué attached importance to the level of long-term and effective cooperation established between the two organisations and emphasised that the CoE highly appreciates the use of expert opinions and the implementation of recommendations from the Council of Europe and its bodies, especially the Venice Commission and the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) in the agenda of all the aforementioned reforms.

The parties discussed the joint programs being implemented and to be implemented by the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice in the aforementioned fields. The colleagues from the CoE presented the project initiated by the Secretariat of the Council of Europe under the title "Strengthening Human Rights Safeguards for the Displaced Population in Armenia" and its three components, including the following: improving the protection of displaced persons' rights, strengthening social guarantees and raising public awareness about these issues. During the meeting, the parties also touched upon the status of implementation of the National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights and the 2023-2025 Action Plan arising from the Strategy, including the importance of drafting the laws “On ensuring equality” and "On national minorities" and the expert support from the Council of Europe in this process. The discussion also covered the course of judicial-legal, anti-corruption and constitutional reforms, including ongoing reforms in the judicial system, particularly the development of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and questions regarding the importance of provision of expert support from the CoE in this area.

At the end of the meeting, the parties also predetermined new perspectives for the expansion of co-operation.