OSCE OFFICE IN YEREVAN AND OSCE HUMAN RIGHTS BODY TRAINS STAFF OF ARMENIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER

armradio.am
13.11.2007 14:37

An OSCE – supported training course for Armenia’s office of the Human
Rights Defender (Ombudsman) began today in Yerevan.

The training course is organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan,
the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
and the office of the Human Rights Defender, which invited the OSCE
to organize the training course.

"All national human rights institutions have a role to play in
protecting and promoting human rights," said Mark Guthrie, Deputy
Head of ODIHR’s Human Rights Department.

"We hope that this training, carried out upon the invitation of the
Human Rights Defender will help strengthen the capacity of his office
to work with both government and civil society on the prevention and
resolution of citizen’s complaints and thereby fulfill that role."

Armen Harutyunyan, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of
Armenia, added: "This initiative will be very useful for furthering
the professional skills of the staff of the Human Rights Defender."

The role of the Human Rights Defender is to protect the human rights
and fundamental freedoms of citizens against any breaches by central
and local government.

Government officials and civil society representatives are taking
part in the workshop with the staff of the Office of the Human Rights
Defender.

Invited speakers include officials from the Office of the UK
Parliamentary and Heath Service Ombudsman Office of the Swedish
Ombudsman for Ethnic Discrimination.

The training course, financed by Germany, is supported by the ODIHR
Focal Point for Human Rights Defenders and National Human Rights
Institutions to assist in the establishment and strengthening of
independent human rights institutions capable of promoting and
protecting human rights.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress