The Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan was in Gegharkunik region on a working visit. The Defender and his representatives had a meeting with the region’s Governor Gnel Sanosyan and representatives of the administration of the region.
During the meeting, individual complaints of the region’s residents addressed to the Defender, as well as a number of issues related to the human rights situation in the region were discussed.
Particularly, issues related to the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities, inclusive education, provision of proper medical care to children with disabilities, sex-selective abortion, development of women’s economic capacities, issues concerning social benefits, ways of resolving the situation with emergency residential buildings and other priorities were discussed.
During the meeting, it was noted that necessary infrastructures were created for the refugees living in the region, unlike other borderline regions. The issue of compensation raised by the residents of Artsvashen was also discussed.
The Human Rights Defender will assist in resolving the discussed issues within his mandate.
During the visit, a meeting with the representatives of NGOs working in Gegharkunik region also took place.
The Human Rights Defender's support in the area of women's employment and opportunities for women's capacity development and economic empowerment were discussed, as well as issues related to violations of labor rights, prevention of violence against women, right to healthcare.
The Defender emphasized the watchdog role of civil society with regard to implementation of recommendations in the field of human rights.
The mentioned issues were also discussed with the representatives of the local state and self-government bodies.
The visit was conducted in the framework of the "Promoting Human Rights in Armenia for All" project funded by the USAID and implemented by the ABA ROLI Armenia.