Statement in Defense of Zarouhi Mejlumyan, Human Rights Defender and Journalist

The social media has been recently flared up over the pardon petition for Mher Yenokyan serving a life sentence. The process of the pardon is confidential, however it has leaked through unknown channels and been placed on the public agenda. Leaving aside the consideration of the pardon petition to the authorized entities, we would like to address the smear campaign attacking human rights defender and journalist Zarouhi Mejloumyan. We are witnessing a serious assault against the honor and reputation of a woman accompanied by hate speech.

The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women finds this interference into a person’s private life and incitement of hatred on that basis unacceptable. Our statement is based Armenia’s legislation and international conventions signed by the country, Armenia’s constitution, Article 31 of which clearly reads the following:

“Everyone shall have the right to inviolability of his or her private and family life, honour and good reputation.” A person’s dignity, including honor, good reputation and private life are an absolute right which are not limited to the “inner circle” in which a person extends a private life.

The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women condemns this behavior and finds such interference into a woman’s private life and public attack targeting of her dignity and reputation unacceptable.

Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women

Human Rights House Yerevan