A delegation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) visited Armenia from 30 May to 3 June 2022 as the first step in the preparation of a monitoring report. During the visit, ECRI’s delegation gathered information on effective equality and access to rights; hate speech and hate-motivated violence; and integration and inclusion.
The delegation held meetings with representatives of government and other authorities, the Human Rights Defender and civil society. It also visited the newly opened safe space for LGBT people in Armenia (Yerevan), to discuss the situation of Armenian LGBTI communities together with representatives of relevant NGOs.
Following this visit, ECRI will adopt a report in 2023, in which it will make a new set of recommendations on measures to be taken by the authorities to address racism and intolerance in the country. The implementation of two priority recommendations will be reviewed in two years’ time after publication of the report as part of ECRI’s interim follow-up procedure.
In its previous report on Armenia, published in 2016, among other recommendations, ECRI recommended that the various action plans containing programmes for the integration of vulnerable groups include a description of their objectives, a complete set of criteria for assessing their impact on these groups, and a clear financial plan. This recommendation concerned existing stand-alone programmes and any future programmes deriving from the comprehensive integration policies which were being developed. In its interim follow-up conclusions, published in 2019, ECRI considered that this recommendation had been partially implemented.
ECRI also recommended that a national integration strategy be developed, in consultation with representatives of the vulnerable groups concerned. This strategy should also establish clear co-ordination mechanisms between all relevant ministries, implementing agencies and potential donors.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/-/council-of-europe-anti-racism-body-to-prepare-report-on-armenia
