On October 21-22, a high-level international conference titled “Ombudsman/National Human Rights Institutions in Crisis Situations: Resilience and Challenges” was held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ombudsman Institution. A panel discussion on “The Impact of Ombudsman and National Human Rights Institutions on the Human Rights Protection System: Core Principles of Independence and Impartiality” was part of the event.
The first day, October 21, featured opening remarks from Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, Anahit Manasyan, along with speeches by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President Vahagn Khachaturyan, and Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan. Maxim Longangue, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Armenia, also delivered an opening address.
On October 22, the second day of the event, a panel discussion on “The Role of Ombudsman and National Human Rights Institutions in Supporting and Protecting Human Rights Defenders” brought together several distinguished speakers: Siranush Sahakyan, head of the International and Comparative Law Center and representative of Armenian POWs at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Debbie Kohner, secretary general of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), Nicoleta Biterova, legal coordinator of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), Beate Rudolf, director of the German Institute for Human Rights (via online participation).
The conference served as a platform to discuss the mandate and role of national human rights institutions in crisis situations. It aimed to strengthen cooperation between national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders in human rights protection systems and mechanisms.
The event focused on sharing best practices, lessons learned, and tools utilized by national human rights institutions in diverse national contexts, based on European and international standards. It also explored strategies for improving the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups and individuals.
Leaders and representatives of Ombudsman institutions and equality bodies from more than 15 Council of Europe member states participated in the discussions.