Press Releases

/2011-December-20/

Vilnius (4 December 2011)—In order to address the inadequate response of states and international organizations to ongoing human rights violations in Europe and Eurasia, 35 leading civil society organizations today launched Civic Solidarity, a new international platform for cooperation.

/2011-December-15/

Yesterday, the human rights activist and Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, Artur Sakunts, informed Zhoghovurd that HCAV received an alert that a citizen was invited to the Lori Region Prosecutor’s Office where he harmed himself.

/2011-December-13/

The presentation and discussion of the judicial cases initiated by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor in 2001-2011, will be held on December 14, 2011, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the joint meeting room of the Congress Hotel.

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Latest Publication

/2011-December-23/

The Right to receive Medical Help and the Means of Providing First Aid for Drug-Addicts

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Latest Report

/2011-December-13/

Monitoring Report on the Human rights Situation in the Eastern Partnership Countries

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Announcements

/2012-January-24/

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor just announced a contest for anyone interested in designing a logo for a new Human Rights Park.

/2012-January-13/

HCA Vanadzor regularly receives complaints from citizens regarding instances of violence, inhuman and degrading treatment used against them at the police stations.

/2011-December-14/

The authorities were not satisfied with simply declaring the Chairman of Helsinki Citzens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, Artur Sakunts, a ‘grant consumer.’

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Blog last activity

/2010-June-28/

Лидеры России, США и Франции приняли заявление по Карабаху

Президенты РФ, США и Франции в рамках саммита «большой восьмерки» в Канаде приняли совместное заявление по н�

www.hcav.am/blog/

Human Rights in Lori Region

www.hrlori.am

Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan for 2011-2015

Strategic Plan for 2006-2010
adopted in 2005, amended in in 2007

Yellow Tulips

www.yellowtulips.hcav.am

Anticorruption center of Lori Region

Who privatizes human conscience?

Human Rights Protection Freedom of Conscience and Religion Press releases /2010-April-14/

Article 26 of the RA Constitution envisages that everyone has a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Recent surveys of the OSCE Yerevan Office and "Collaboration for Democracy" Centre show that the right is often violated in the country, especially in marzes.

Within the framework of today's discussion on "Religious Tolerance in Armenia," President of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor office Artur Sakunts presented cases of religious intolerance in Lori Marz.

"One of the local teachers considered it within his competence to "test" pupils on religious questions and mistreated those who did not attend the Apostolic Church. The same teacher took an active part in electoral riggings."

"No one and no church can privatize my conscience and freedom. I am free in my belief," said Artur Sakunts. He thinks that today the church and other religious organizations are extremely isolated and cut off from society.

Ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan says Armenia is extremely tolerant to ethnic minorities, their beliefs and traditions. She welcomes a more balanced approach to religious problems in the press.

The ethnographer salutes public resentment over a government decision on demolishing the summer hall of "Moscow" Cinema. "The course of events shows that our society has become sensitive to religious issues. What's the use of a new church if there are many empty churches in Yerevan?"

The leader of the Evangelical Church, Rene Levonian expressed hope that the state will pay more attention to religious organizations.

"We see a contradiction between the Constitution and other laws. For example, the Constitution says that RA citizens are free in their religious beliefs while the Law on Freedom of Religion sets certain restrictions on the activities of religious organizations. The Armenian Apostolic Church is of great importance, but other religious organizations also have the right to practice their faith," said Mr. Levonian.

http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2010/04/14/tolerance