Legal status of missing persons to be settled, family members to receive social guarantees — Concept paper on Law considered

Deputy Minister Armenuhi Harutyunyan received representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor led by ICRC Protection Coordinator Corina Eggenberger and Chairperson of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor Artur Sakunts. The concept paper on the Law "On missing persons", the primary and key regulations of the Law being developed, the goals of the Law and the paths to achieving those goals were discussed during the meeting. Armenuhi Harutyunyan mentioned that the purpose of the Law is to establish, in the context of protection of the rights of missing persons and their families, legal mechanisms that will provide the opportunity to comprehensively settle the legal status of missing persons and for their family members to receive social guarantees, including the opportunity to address their problems related to health and education and to exercise their right to receive information. Artur Sakunts and Corina Eggenberger also expressed their views during the discussion. Armenuhi Harutyunyan reaffirmed that it is the duty of the State to protect the rights of missing persons and their families; therefore, the Law will represent a set of approaches to determining the legal status of persons who went missing during hostilities or armed conflict for defence of the Republic of Armenia or in the conditions created as a result of those hostilities or armed conflict, including in peaceful conditions during ceasefire or following armed operations, enshrining social guarantees for the family members of the missing persons and improving the legal framework. The International Committee of the Red Cross and Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor expressed their unconditional support to and willingness for development of the Law. An agreement was reached to hold joint discussions on the developed Draft in the future.