Davtyan Emphasizes the Creation of Effective Legal Mechanisms Against Hate Speech and Violence

The Prosecutor General of Armenia, Artur Davtyan, welcomed a delegation led by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today.

In greeting the guests during their return visit to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Davtyan highly appreciated the current level of relations with the OSCE/ODIHR and the rich experience of cooperation, which are crucial prerequisites for the implementation of new initiatives and joint projects.

He noted that significant developments have occurred in the legal and judicial sphere, as well as in the protection of human rights in Armenia over the past two years since Gísladóttir’s previous visit, driven by institutional, legislative, and organizational reforms supported by international partner organizations, including the OSCE.

Gísladóttir expressed satisfaction with the participation of the Prosecutor General’s Office in cooperation projects aimed at enhancing democratic and human rights protection systems, and the expressed willingness to continue such efforts. She emphasized that there are new opportunities, particularly for enhancing the capabilities of the prosecutor's office.

During the meeting, they discussed improving the legislative framework and practical effectiveness of combating hate crimes, including the possibilities for implementing training programs for prosecutors with a tripartite format in cooperation with the OSCE/ODIHR, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the Academy of Justice.

Davtyan emphasized that the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia provides sufficient opportunities and procedures for combating crimes committed on the grounds of national, religious, and racial discrimination and hate; however, it is always relevant to improve the professional skills of prosecutors alongside the development of tools in the fight against crime and legal thought.

He added that from the perspective of ensuring the normal functioning of society, it is particularly important to establish practical and flexible legal frameworks for combating hate speech and violence at various levels, while studying international experiences, towards which active work is currently being undertaken.

The discussion also included the progress of the OSCE/ODIHR's needs assessment program for prosecutors in six Eastern Partnership countries and issues related to strengthening the functional independence of prosecutors. There was mutual willingness to intensify communication and information exchange processes.