The statement of a group of Armenian civil society organizations regarding the Armenia-EU visa liberalization process

30.09.2024

Yerevan, 30.09.2024

We express our willingness to support the implementation of commitments arising from this process through monitoring, policy development, public oversight, inclusive participation, and capacity building.

We propose that the Armenian government initiate broad discussions with active public participation in the near future to develop the priorities of the visa liberalization process. This will provide an opportunity to promote reforms in such priority areas as the fight against discrimination and gender-based violence, social justice, prevention of torture and ill-treatment, protection of environmental rights, increasing police accountability, access to health services for vulnerable groups, in accordance with Armenia's international obligations.

For the smooth and effective implementation of the visa liberalization process, it is important for the state to organize and implement effective public communication to increase awareness of Armenia's obligations, to effectively counter misinformation, as well as to foster public support for the reforms.

We are ready to cooperate with the government, European institutions and other partners to ensure that the reforms are effective, inclusive and align with the aspirations of the Armenian people to build a more open and resilient society.

We call on all relevant parties to maintain a transparent and participatory approach throughout the visa liberalization process. Working together, we can ensure that this dialogue promotes free movement, fosters cooperation and lays the groundwork for a more prosperous and democratic Armenia within the European family.

Undersigned organizations

Partnership for Open Society

Democracy Development Foundation

Research Center on Security Policy

Analytical Centre on Globalisation and Regional Cooperation

Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center

Journalists’ Club “Asparez”

Union of Informed Citizens

''Real world, real people'' NGO

Center for Rights Development NGO

Law Development and Protection Foundation

Protection of Rights Without Borderd NGO

Peace Dialogue NGO

Women's Resource Center

Public Journalism Club

“For Equal Rights” NGO

''Disability rights agenda'' NGO

Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor

The statement of a group of Armenian civil society organizations regarding the Armenia-EU visa liberalization process

30.09.2024

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, welcome the start of the visa liberalization dialogue between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union. This important step underscores the deepening cooperation between Armenia and the European Union, reflecting the willingness of both sides to foster closer ties, expand mobility and advance universal values. We express our willingness to support the implementation of commitments arising from this process through monitoring, policy development, public oversight, inclusive participation, and capacity building.

Statement Regarding Police Actions on May 27

29.05.2024

On May 27, 2024, during the protests, the actions of the RA police aimed at maintaining public order were accompanied by the mass detention of participants, violence against some participants, and cases of unlawful use of measures. Violence was also used against a member of the RA National Assembly near the ARF party office. As previously noted, the habitual conduct of law enforcement officers remains unchanged: they continue to engage in unlawful and disproportionate use of force, illegal detentions, and violations of the right to liberty during the exercise of the right to freedom of assembly. The use of such methods by the police is the result of a longstanding policy of impunity within the system, leading to the use of violent force becoming the main tool of the police. In conditions of public and political confrontation, the only way to prevent further tensions is the strict adherence to the principles of the rule of law and equal accountability before the law for all. Actions that violate human rights and exacerbate tensions or propagate hate speech must be avoided.

Letter of support to Georgian civil society

05.04.2024

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.

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.