Fostering human rights in the armed forces in Armenia

Back The Project "Fostering Human Rights in the Armed Forces in Armenia" marks its successful completion

Anna SAHAKYAN

Modified 1 Year ago.

The Council of Europe, in collaboration with Armenian partners, has successfully concluded the "Fostering Human Rights in the Armed Forces in Armenia" project. Launched in 2023, this initiative aimed to strengthen human rights protection within Armenia’s armed forces, addressing critical issues such as gender equality, regulatory improvements, and enhancing human rights knowledge among military personnel.

The closing event, held on 18 February 2025, brought together over 80 key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Human Rights Defender’s Office, the judiciary, and military law enforcement agencies. The event served as a platform to highlight the project's significant accomplishments and to outline future steps to ensure that human rights remain a central focus of Armenia’s armed forces.

Over the two years of its implementation, the project explored important human rights issues such as non-combat deaths in the army; mental health in the armed forces and serious consequences of its neglect; worked on the inclusion of women in the military and the creation of a safe and just environment for them; and expanded awareness and capacity-building on human rights standards within the armed forces.

The project also looked into topics such as the investigation of ill-treatment cases, harmful phenomenon of criminal subculture in the military, and the monitoring of human rights violations and responses to them. Central to the project were also issues directly related to the execution of judgments by the European Court of Human Rights against Armenia.

The discussions at the closing event focused not only on celebrating the project’s achievements but also on exploring future opportunities to further strengthen human rights protections within Armenia’s armed forces.

The participants emphasised the importance of sustaining the progress made through continued collaboration, capacity-building, and policy development. These efforts will help ensure that human rights remain a priority in the further reforms and developments of Armenia’s defense sector.

The event was organised within the framework of the Project “Fostering Human Rights in the Armed Forces in Armenia” implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023 – 2026.

YEREVAN, ARMENIA 18 FEBRUARY 2025

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Start Date: 01 January 2023

Duration: 24 months

Funding: EUR 600 000

Donor: Donors contributing to the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023–2026

Partners: Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Justice; Office of the Representative of the Republic of Armenia on International Legal Matters; Human Rights Defender’s Office; Justice Academy, Marshal A. Khanperyants Military Aviation University of the Ministry of Defence of Armenia, Military University named after V. Sargsyan of the Ministry of Defence of Armenia, Military Police, Court of Cassation.

Results of the Project: Members of the armed forces enjoy better protection of human and social rights and women’s role in the military is empowered.

As a result of the Project:
1. The framework and mechanisms to prevent and address human rights violations in the armed forces are further aligned with European human rights standards;
2. The armed forces personnel implement a human rights policy in the armed forces, in line with Council of Europe principles and recommendations, with a specific attention to matters related to social protection and health care rights of military personnel, including women and veterans.

Objectives:

The Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, HRDO, judicial and law enforcement bodies engage with CoE experts in revising the relevant policies, legal and regulatory frameworks with a view to։ a) ensure prevention of human rights violations in the armed forces, and effective examination thereto, and b) to enable stronger internal systems to detect, record and prevent alleged human rights violations in the army;
Relevant services of the MoD possess the expertise to revise and/or develop internal regulatory instruments and procedures to ensure effective application of gender equality, healthcare and social guarantees into the daily life of military servicepersons;
Armed forces personnel, law-enforcement and judicial bodies, the HRDO have enhanced knowledge and skills to effectively address human rights violations in the army through application of European human rights standards in their respective functions;
Professional and operational capacities of relevant entities responsible for ensuring and promoting the enhancement of participation of women serviceperson within the military are further strengthened;
The policymakers and relevant actors in the armed forces introduce and apply a human rights-based approach in line with the CoE standards in the armed forces, military education, research and awareness raising activities.

Reference documents