Epress.am News from Armenia
A new joint project by the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to support democratic elections in Armenia aims to raise the role of the Human Rights Defender’s Office. In order to do this, the EU has pledged funds for the creation of 6 regional Human Rights Defender’s offices, deputy head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Carel Hofstra told journalists at a press conference in Yerevan today.
The regional offices must be equipped with the necessary equipment and vehicles, he added.
“We believe that the Ombudsman’s Office has to expand its geographical outreach — it has to engage in defending human rights also outside of Yerevan. To assist in human rights protection, we intend to operate not only before and during elections, but also after. If there are court cases following the elections, we will be following those judicial processes,” he said.