Constitutional courts serve as the primary guardian of constitutional principles and ensure that human rights and the rule of law are protected in democratic and just society.

On 14-15 November, a high-level international conference "Respect for the Decisions of Constitutional Courts," took place in Yerevan, Armenia, highlighting the essential role of constitutional court decisions in safeguarding the rule of law and protecting human rights at both national and international levels.

The event brought together constitutional court judges, Venice Commission members, Council of Europe consultants, national authorities, and representatives from academia.

The dynamic discussion focused on the implementation of constitutional court decisions across Europe, the impact of media criticism on the courts, and the application of the Rule of Law Checklist within national jurisdictions.

In his opening remarks Arman Dilanyan, the President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, stressed the importance of such events for strengthening the culture of respect towards decisions of the Constitutional Court among different branches of power and public.

“Within the framework of this conference, we will have the opportunity to examine the best practices of our partners, and share our own experiences, which will enable us to find more flexible and effective ways of respecting and implementing the decisions of the constitutional courts” - highlighted the President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, Arman Dilanyan.

The Council of Europe remains committed to supporting the Constitutional Court’s effectiveness and public perception, as well as to the Constitutional Court capacity to better implement the European Convention on Human Rights.

The event was co-organised by the Venice Commission and the Council of Europe project “Support to the development of constitutional justice in Armenia in line with European standards”.