Women in Armenia Lack the Same Opportunities and Compensation as Men, US State Department Report

The US State Department has released its 2022 report on human rights, which examines the situation in 200 countries, including Armenia, as reported by Voice of America.

In the 2022 human rights report, the State Department highlights significant issues in Armenia, including credible reports of torture by security force members, harsh prison conditions, arbitrary arrests or detentions, serious problems with judicial independence, arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy, restrictions on freedom of speech, violent crimes aimed at civil society figures and members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as forms of the worst child labor.

The report also addresses the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, specifically regarding reports of unlawful executions of soldiers during last year's clashes. According to the report, “following intense fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces in mid-September, credible reports emerged of unlawful executions, including the executions of Armenian soldiers under Azerbaijani detention.”

The report cites investigations by Human Rights Watch and the Bellingcat journalistic group, asserting that a widely circulated video shows at least seven Armenian soldiers being unlawfully executed by servicemen in Azerbaijani military uniforms. Another video reportedly depicts three Armenian soldiers under the captivity of Azerbaijani troops in a military position. It has been reported that the bodies of the three were later returned to Armenia, and their identities were confirmed.

The State Department’s report states that human rights organizations continue to express concerns about deaths in the Armenian army due to non-combat operations and the lack of proper investigation by law enforcement agencies into these deaths. According to human rights NGOs, the government’s lack of transparency regarding military fatalities, regardless of their combat or non-combat nature, has led to public distrust in the official information on this issue.

The report highlights a legacy of systemic corruption in various sectors, including construction, mining, public administration, parliament, the judicial system, procurement, and the provision of public support. Accusations have also been leveled regarding the embezzlement of public funds involving public officials and questionable business activities.

The report notes that there have been no credible reports of the existence of political prisoners in Armenia. However, there are reports that representatives of the security forces continued to subject detained individuals to torture or allowed other abuses. These included ongoing reports of torture in police stations, which, unlike prisons and police detention centers, are not subject to public monitoring.

The report also addresses discrimination in Armenia, particularly based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability. The report assesses that the legislation against discrimination is imperfect and does not adequately protect vulnerable groups across all aspects of their lives, including access to employment, housing, family relations, education, and healthcare, while discrimination against persons with disabilities remains a widespread issue. The latter do not have equal access to educational, healthcare, and public infrastructure, as well as transportation.

Moreover, according to the report, women, unlike men, generally do not have the same professional opportunities or compensation. Employers frequently relegate them to lower-paid positions. The report states that the labor code does not explicitly require equal pay for equal work.

The report claims that there is a common perception in public circles that sexual harassment against women is widespread in workplaces and political arenas, and this issue does not receive adequate response from the government.

Discussing this year’s human rights report, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the document highlights a persistent backslide in human rights across all countries in the region in 2022, including the restriction of civil activism and disrespect for fundamental human dignity. He stated that the report presents a factual, objective, and in-depth account of the human rights situation worldwide, examining developments related to this sector in nearly 200 countries and territories.

The Secretary highlighted that it applies the same standards to all—both to US allies and partners and to countries with which Washington has disagreements. His aim is not to shame or blame, he stated, emphasizing that it serves rather as a tool for those fighting against human rights violations. While this report examines the situations in various countries around the world, it is recognized that the United States also faces challenges related to human rights, noted the Secretary in his remarks on the report.