Anahit Manasyan met on May 20 with a delegation led by Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights observation mission in Armenia.

Welcoming the delegation, the Human Rights Defender presented the mandate and key methodologies of the Ombudsman’s Office in the context of electoral processes.

Manasyan addressed a range of issues related to the protection of human rights during elections, particularly unacceptable and aggressive rhetoric used during election campaigns, as well as discriminatory and stigmatising speech, stressing their negative impact on both the public environment and the broader system of human rights protection and promotion.

She emphasised that legal accountability mechanisms in the context of electoral processes must be applied consistently and without selectivity, while state institutions should pursue more sensitive public communication during election campaigns.

The Human Rights Defender also raised concerns over the extensive use of detention as a preventive measure in Armenia, as well as troubling cases of suicides and self-harm in closed institutions, underlining the need for systemic reforms in these areas.

The sides also discussed ensuring the full participation of persons with disabilities in electoral processes, touching upon both the progress achieved and the existing challenges in the field.

At the end of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their readiness to continue cooperation on issues related to the protection and promotion of human rights.