Back Ensuring an open dialogue and synergies with the CSOs active on non-discrimination in Armenia

Ensuring an open dialogue and synergies with the CSOs active on non-discrimination in Armenia

Armenian civil society and non-governmental representatives working on the protection of vulnerable groups and communities met with Council of Europe officials in occasion of an official visit from Strasbourg.

Hosted in the local CoE Office, the meeting enabled discussion on the most pressing issues civil society face when dealing with equality, proposing collaboration within the remit of the Council of Europe’s engagement and mandate. Special attention was paid to strengthening the rights of minority groups through the local legislation, improved educational possibilities for schools and children in rural areas, preservation of cultural heritage, as well as enhancing capacities of national actors to co-ordinate anti-discrimination works and measures with civil society.

Claus Neukirch, Director of the Council of Europe Directorate of Programme Co-ordination, highlighted the importance of consistent co-operation and dialogue between Council of Europe and civil society, aimed at stronger response to human rights violations and the reform agenda proposed for Armenia under the new Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia - a comprehensive key instrument pursuing democratic reform agenda of the Government to further develop democratic institutions in compliance with European standards.

Thorsten Afflerbach, Head of Equal Rights and Hate Prevention Division, stated that the Council of Europe and civil society organisations are natural partners in promotion and protection of human rights, in combating discrimination and discrimination on different grounds. He confirmed that the part of our future efforts will be continuation of building trust between state institutions, law enforcement and civil society organisations, ensuring that that victims of violations obtain appropriate redress, while the protection and prevention mechanisms are in place.

Both representatives of the Council of Europe and civil society organisations acknowledged the significance of continued collaboration on this matter and confirmed their readiness to engage in future initiatives.

The event was organised in the framework of the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination in Armenia”, part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Partnership for Good Governance, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.

YEREVAN, ARMENIA 15 APRIL 2026
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What is the goal and objective of the project?

This project seeks to further support national stakeholders and partners providing in-depth knowledge and stimulating their cooperation and networking, towards better responses to discrimination and hatred. It will reinforce national remedies against hate speech, continue the work initiated with state institutions to respond to discrimination and hate crime in line with national reforms and work with non-state stakeholders and local institutions to improve their understanding of equality and diversity, better reaching out victims from vulnerable groups. Its synergy with the regional action will also feed into expected results, encouraging regional networking and creating platform for mutual understanding and exchange of the best practices.

Its aim is to improve the functioning of the state and non-state institutions to combat discrimination, hatred, and racism in line with the European standards.

This project is implemented within the third Phase of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Partnership for Good Governance” running from 2023 until 2027. It builds on the results of the previous phases of the Partnership for Good Governance in the field of promoting equality and non-discrimination (Phase I 2015-2018 and Phase II 2019-2023).

What is the project duration?

The project runs from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2026.

What is the budget of the project?

► The total project budget is EUR 300 000.
► The overall Programme budget is EUR 19.3 M (80% is co-funded by the European Union and 20% by the Council of Europe).

Who benefits from the project?

 

     ► Ministry of Justice

►  Prosecutor General’s Office

►  Court of Cassation

►  Supreme Judicial Council

       ► Civil Society Organizations

       ► general public. 

How does the project work?

Through a combination of tailored policy/legislative, capacity-building and awareness raising actions.

What do we expect to achieve?

► The legislative framework to combat discrimination, hatred, and racism in Armenia is in line with European standards.
► State institutions and the Human Rights Defender's Office improve their understanding on discrimination and hate speech in line with the European standards.
► State institutions and law enforcement bodies improve their responses to combating discrimination and hatred under their mandate.
► The general public in Armenia raises awareness of the negative effects posed by discrimination and hatred.

How to get more information?

► The Project is implemented by the Anti-discrimination Cooperation Unit, in the Council of Europe’s Anti-Discrimination Department (Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity, DG II).
► Partnership for Good Governance
Website:  http://partnership-governance-eu.coe.int/
email: [email protected] 
► Council of Europe Office in Yerevan Website: https://www.coe.int/yerevan
email: [email protected] 

 

 


 

What is the Partnership for Good Governance?

The “Partnership for Good Governance” (PGG) is a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe for strengthening good governance in the Eastern Partnership region*. The "Partnership for Good Governance" provides tailor-made support to Eastern Partnership countries to bring their legislation and practice closer to European standards in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy. It supports, in particular, Eastern Partnership countries’ domestic reforms to strengthen justice, counter economic crime, promote equality and non-discrimination, advance women’s access to justice and combat violence against women.

* While the Partnership for Good Governance does not include activities with the participation of the Belarusian authorities, activities may be organised with the representatives of Belarusian civil society and democratic forces as appropriate in line with the European Council Conclusions of February 2022 and the Decision of the Council of Europe Ministers’ Deputies of March 2022.