Armenia’s human rights record is being examined by the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the second time on Thursday.

Armenia is one of the 14 States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session taking place from 19 to 30 January.  Armenia’s first UPR review took place on 6 May 2010.

The documents on which the reviews are based are: 1) national report - information provided by the State under review 2) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; 3) information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations and civil society groups.

Among the issues raised in the above-mentioned documents are:  countering discrimination; the rights of national minorities; discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and protection for LGBT persons; the prohibition of the use of torture and ill-treatment; arbitrary detention; accountability of law enforcement officers in case of excessive use of force; violence against women and redress for victims; the independence of the judiciary and access to justice; the exercise of freedom of religion and belief, of peaceful assembly and of expression; legal safeguards for journalists and human rights defenders; access to health services; ensuring free secondary education; employment opportunities for persons with disabilities; just and favourable working conditions; and property rights in connection with allocations of land for mining.