Letter of support to Georgian civil society

05.04.2024

Dear Georgian friends, colleagues, partners,

With this letter we, Armenian civil society organizations and individuals, express our strong solidarity with you. We support you in your courage to stand against consistent and constant efforts by Georgia’s government to limit civic freedoms and fundamental human rights, including in the form of limiting the political participation of women, also by re-introducing the draft law on Transparency of Foreign Influence.

In the minds of people who remember the history of the 20th century, the concept of foreign influence is strongly associated with advancing conspiracy theories used for violations of human rights and prosecution of the innocent, from which both our nations suffered significantly. We trust that at the times, when democracy is being attacked from so many angles, it is even more important to unite pro-democratic forces and build firewalls against attempts of weakening it in our region and beyond.

We follow the developments with sorrow but also with admiration to the resilience you demonstrate, your spirit and unbrokenness. We know that freedom is deeply and inherently rooted in our societies, and even in the darkest hours of history the fight for it was never compromised.

We stay committed to continue supporting you with other initiatives in ways you find helpful.

Women Resource Center

The Coalition to Stop Violence against Women

Public Journalism Club

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor

Peace Dialogue

Center for Community Mobilization and Support

For Equal Rights Educational Center

Article 3 Human Rights Club

Spitak Helsinki Group

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Armenian Committee

Journalists' Club "Asparez"

Protection of Rights Without Borders

Women’s Rights House Gyumri

Armenian Progressive Youth

‘NGO Center’ Civil Society Development NGO

Democracy Development Foundation

Disability Rights Agenda NGO

Transparency International Anticorruption Center

Media Initiatives Center

Direct Democracy

Women’s Agenda

Law Development and Protection Foundation

Helsinki Association for Human Rights

Pink Human Rights Defender NGO

PEN Armenia

Human Rights House Yerevan

Isabella Sargsyan

Nvard Manasyan

Statement on the Continuing Police Violence

03.04.2024

Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs expresses its willingness to understand the problems and to implement reforms, the recorded cases of continuous and systematic violence prove that the reforms are incomplete and ineffective. The principle of "Zero Tolerance for Violence", which should underpin any interaction between citizens and police officers, hasn't been established in the police. We, the undersigned civil society organisations, condemn the continued use of violence and torture by police officers. Given the current situation and the cases mentioned in the statement, the undersigned CSOs demand from the Prime Minister and the ruling party to implement real and radical reforms in the RA’s law enforcement system: the Police, investigative bodies, and the Prosecutor’s Office.

Joint Submission to the UN Committee Against Torture for the Fifth Periodic Report of the Republic of Azerbaijan

28.03.2024

This joint report is submitted to the UN Committee against Torture for the 5th review of Azerbaijan. The report is submitted by the Protection of Rights without Borders NGO, Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Democracy Development Foundation, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor, Law Development and Protection Foundation and International Partnership for Human Rights. The report focuses on the implementation of Azerbaijan’s commitments to prevent and combat torture, in particular, combat impunity for torture, prevent instances of torture and ill-treatment that are based on the ground of ethnic discrimination against ethnic Armenians, and guarantee access to effective remedy and redress. It also includes an assessment of the situation with gender-based violence, death in custody and enforced disappearances in the context of armed conflict.

STOP Azerbaijan carrying out a genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan is shelling Stepanakert

19.09.2023

On 19 September 2023, at 1:22 p.m., the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan made an official statement on starting a so-called anti-terrorist operation. Stepanakert, the capital city of Nagorno-Karabakh, is currently being shelled from Shushi city. We hereby appeal to all the international organizations and states who attach any importance to human rights and security: not only to condemn the monstrous operation carried out by Aliyev’s dictatorial regime, but also to take concrete measures to prevent the genocide of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Request for Urgent Intervention by the United Nations Secretary-General

26.07.2023

The undersigned civil society organizations call for António Guterres's, United Nations Secretary-General, intervention in relation to the human rights emergency in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) caused by the total blockade of the Lachin corridor – the only lifeline that connects the local Armenian people to the Republic of Armenia as well as to the outside world, with an apparent intent of ethnic cleansing.