Armenia - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 35, January 23, 2020
Recommendations by Canada

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that supports the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in the last two UPR cycles, Armenia received 360 recommendations and accepted 313 (which represents an acceptance rate of 86%). Canada’s previous recommendations were related to human rights violations by state agents, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of the press, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Armenia has undergone significant political and social changes since the last UPR in 2015. In April 2018, the country witnessed massive peaceful protests led by opposition member of parliament Nikol Pashinyan against the long-ruling Republican Party, which culminated in the appointment of Pashinyan as acting Prime Minister and forced out an entrenched political elite.

In December 2018, snap parliamentary elections were held which consolidated the results of the ‘Velvet Revolution’ through the landslide victory of Pashinyan, handing him overwhelming control of the parliament. The new political landscape has raised expectations amongst the population, which demands greater transparency and an end to impunity for human rights violations conducted under the previous government. 

The Armenian authorities have achieved significant advancements in protecting human rights. For the first time in decades, Armenia had free and fair national and municipal elections.  The right to freedom of expression and freedom of media have substantially improved, placing Armenia as the 8th most free country in Freedom House’s annual report (in 2018, Armenia ranked 13th).  The authorities have also declared and pursued a zero tolerance policy towards corruption.

However, these measures taken have not translated into firm commitments. For example, the new human rights strategy has not yet been published. There has also been a lack of response in addressing violations of the rights of LGBTI persons, with prevailing attitudes seeing it as a choice incompatible with traditional Armenian values. There has also been a lack of support for human rights defenders with official and public condemnation of attacks when they occur, which reinforced an atmosphere of impunity against human rights defenders.

Overall, authorities appear to be steering the country in the right direction when it comes to human rights. However, there has been a lack of firm commitments to protect vulnerable groups such as women and LGBTI people and human rights defenders. 

Recommendations

Thank you, Madam President.

Canada welcomes important improvements made by Armenia since its last UPR in 2015, including the significant increase of freedom of the press.

Canada recommends that Armenia:

1. Ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention).
2. Ensure prompt, thorough, and effective investigations into all cases of violence against LGBTI persons, and that perpetrators are held accountable.
3. Enact specific legislation that prohibit hate speech, take concrete action to halt smear campaigns and threats against human rights defenders. 

Canada is pleased that Armenia accepted five of six recommendations formulated by Canada in past UPRs.  We note that progress is still needed to strengthen the rule of law and independence of the judiciary, including increase transparency in court proceedings and investigations and prosecution of members of the former ruling party.