Among Armenia’s top human rights concerns are freedom of expression and violence against women. Armenia has failed to meet its commitments on conscientious objectors to compulsory military service, especially for Jehovah’s Witnesses, who continue to be imprisoned. Armenia is yet to adopt comprehensive legislation to combat violence against women, a pledge it made in 2008.
There has been recent violence against LGBTI communities, such as the 2012 firebombing of a gay-friendly bar in Yerevan, and a short-lived attempt by the central police to criminalize ‘non-traditional sexual propaganda.’
Local activists have alarmed about epidemic mining-related health issues. Communities complain that they are not consulted about mining development that is going to affect their health. Subsequent protests become more delicate, however, as new mines often become the sole option for employment.
Human rights violations have been prevalent at every national election in Armenia except 1991. Ten people were killed in the 2008 post-election protests. The February 2013 presidential election registered dozens of reported irregularities, including violence against observers by local officials.
Armenia and its neighbor Azerbaijan are deadlocked in the peace process over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh after a deadly post-Soviet war in the early 1990s that killed 30,000 people and left almost one million displaced. Both countries deny responsibility in the mutual massacres and pogroms, including the killings of Azerbaijani civilians during the Armenian takeover of Khojaly (Xocalı) in 1992. State-sponsored human rights violations have continued beyond the 1994 ceasefire, such as the Azerbaijani army’s deliberate eradication of the remote medieval Armenian cemetery Djulfa (Culfa, historically Jugha) in late 2005.
Discrimination, homophobia and Russia’s crusade against non-traditional sexual relationships have helped fuel a worrying rise in hostility towards LGBTI human rights groups in parts of the former Soviet Union said Amnesty International, in a new report today.
On the launch of its 2015 State of the World report, Amnesty International USA urged President Obama to use his last year in office to bring U.S. laws and policies in line with international human rights standards.
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
The Armenian authorities must urgently ensure an impartial, independent and thorough investigation into allegations that police used excessive force – including dousing people with water cannon – to disperse a mainly peaceful demonstration before arresting more than 200 protesters on the streets of the capital Yerevan early this morning, Amnesty International said.
This has been a devastating year for those seeking to stand up for human rights and for those caught up in the suffering of war zones. Governments pay lip service to the importance of protecting civilians. And yet the world's politicians have miserably failed to protect those in greatest need. Amnesty International believes that this can and must finally change.
Republic of Armenia Head of state Serzh Sargsyan Head of government Tigran Sargsyan Public attitudes were hostile towards topics which were perceived as unpatriotic. Conditions in prisons were reported to …
A spate of homophobic attacks in Armenia and Georgia have marred the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
A bill passed by the French senate yesterday would violate freedom of expression by making it a criminal offense to publicly question events termed as "genocide" under French law, Amnesty International said today.
Head of state Serge Sargsian Head of government Tigran Sargsian Death penalty abolitionist for all crimes Population 3.1 million Life expectancy 73.6 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 29/25 per 1,000 Adult …