Any Manifestation of Discrimination Against National Minorities Must Be Excluded in Armenia, Says Human Rights Defender

The Office of the Human Rights Defender has released a statement: "The monitoring of media and social platforms by the Human Rights Defender's staff indicates that recently there has been a particularly significant increase in hate speech based on ethnic or national identity. In many cases, specific ethnic or national identity is used as an insult.

The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that the use of such speech is unacceptable. The state must take necessary measures to exclude hate speech based on ethnic or national identity. Public and political figures must also refrain from using such language, and mass media should prevent its dissemination.

The Defender also highlights the importance of taking necessary and sufficient steps toward the protection and promotion of the rights of national minorities, which was addressed in the Human Rights Defender's 2023 annual report. Any manifestation of discrimination against national minorities must be excluded in the Republic of Armenia.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance has also noted the hate speech based on ethnic and national identity prevalent in Armenia, stressing the necessity of taking specific steps toward its elimination. This includes emphasizing the need to instill respect for diversity in society through education, as well as preventive measures against discrimination based on ethnicity or national origin against any individual or group of individuals."