Statement of the Delegation of Armenia delivered during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders

05 March, 2021

HRC 46^th Session: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders

Delivered by Mrs. Zoya Stepanyan, Second Secretary

Madam President,

Armenia thanks the Special Rapporteur for her engagement with the Human Rights Council.

As a supporter of this mandate and a traditional co-sponsor of both HRC and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, we strongly believe that solid legal mechanisms, civilian oversight and clear international commitments for protection of human rights defenders from killings, intimidation and harassment are vocal indicators of mature democracy and political pluralism.

We are also convinced in universality of human rights and their equal, non-discriminative and non-selective application.

Unfortunately, in our own region we still witness how human rights defenders, journalists and minority leaders are subjected to government-orchestrated killings, blackmail with the private content, abduction from the territory of third countries, torture and enforced disappearances. It is particularly wearisome that in the atmosphere of severe democratic deficit, restricted internet and endemic corruption, public urge for change is diverted by the government-sponsored hate speech towards neighboring countries, incitement to violence and as a last resort, acts of war and aggression. Random voices of discontent are brutally oppressed and rallies are only allowed if an enraged crowd is chanting the death threats to the neighboring nation.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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