Armenian authorities and the Council of Europe representatives met to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 which was officially launched in Yerevan in February 2023.  

The Action Plan aims to bring Armenia’s legislation, institutions, and practices further closer in line with European standards in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. The importance of the Action Plan was emphasised during the recent visit of Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić to Armenia earlier in April 2024.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paruyr Hovhannisyan mentioned in his speech: “Today’s Steering Committee meeting is organised in the framework of the current Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026. The meeting gathers all our partner ministries, human rights institutions, other national stakeholders. This year it follows immediately the high-ranking visit of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The Steering Committee meeting is a good possibility to showcase excellent co-operation of Armenia and the Council of Europe and its positive dynamic.”

“The Action Plan Steering Committee allows us to see the progress achieved so far, identify the challenges and ways to overcome them, as well as future activities. We enjoy excellent co-operation with the national stakeholders in implementing projects”, said the Director of Programme Co-ordination of the Council of Europe, Claus Neukirch.

Mr Neukirch also congratulated the Armenian authorities on ratifying Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights which abolishes death penalty in all circumstances, highlighting that it is a strategic instrument.

Under this fourth Action Plan for the country, the Council of Europe and the Armenian authorities have agreed to jointly carry forward co-operation programmes and projects aimed at supporting the national reform processes in the protection of human rights in the biomedical field, ensuring respect for social rights, combating violence against women, and improving children’s rights. Other areas of co-operation include enhancing the independence and efficiency of justice, fighting corruption and cybercrime, fighting against discrimination, improving healthcare conditions in prisons, and enhancing the role of probation in the judicial system, as well as implementing reforms in the field of local self-government.

 Download the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 in Armenian, English and French

 More information on the co-operation between the Council of Europe and Armenia

 Visit the website of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan