On August 24, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan received human rights defender Zhanna Aleksanyan, President of the “Journalists for Human Rights” non-governmental organization.
The Defender thanked Ms. Aleksanyan for her important work in various areas of human rights protection, including the protection of rights in the Armed Forces.
🔹 During the meeting, a number of issues related to the protection of human rights in the Armed Forces were discussed, with particular attention paid to ensuring the right to life of servicemen and preventing cases of ill-treatment.
🔹 Particular attention was given to cases involving the deaths and self-harm of servicemen, the possible causes and circumstances contributing to such incidents, as well as the necessary measures aimed at preventing them.
Anahit Manasyan emphasized that every death of a serviceman is a matter of serious concern and that preventing such cases requires continuous and systematic efforts, the implementation of effective preventive mechanisms, as well as proper and consistent action by the competent state authorities.
✅ The Defender noted that the deaths of servicemen recorded in recent weeks, as well as the existing challenges related to ensuring rights in the Armed Forces, demonstrate that, despite the efforts undertaken over the years, a number of issues requiring urgent solutions still persist in this area.
🔹 Issues related to the prevention of violent deaths, suicides, self-harm and ill-treatment in the Armed Forces require systemic reforms.
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✅ Anahit Manasyan emphasized that eliminating non-statutory relations in the Armed Forces is a pressing priority. She noted that the measures undertaken in this regard should be much more concrete and conceptual, while preventive mechanisms should be more comprehensive.
📌 The Defender also stressed the importance of proper, comprehensive and objective investigations within the framework of criminal proceedings concerning such cases, emphasizing the need for sectoral reforms and the importance of holding those responsible accountable.
📌 The parties also discussed issues related to ensuring a healthy moral and psychological environment in the Armed Forces, protecting the rights of servicemen, the early identification of problems, and the effectiveness of mechanisms for providing an appropriate response.
🤝 The Defender emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and professional dialogue with representatives of civil society in identifying existing human rights challenges in the Armed Forces and developing effective measures to address them.
🔎 Anahit Manasyan once again stressed that issues related to the protection of human rights in the Armed Forces remain under her direct attention.