YEREVAN. – The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsperson) of Armenia, Kristinne Grigoryan, on Thursday held a meeting with Erika Olson, the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the US Department of State. The Deputy Assistant Secretary inquired about the priorities of the Defender.           

Presenting the main directions of the work of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Grigoryan shared with Olson their information on the situation of the rights of the persons living in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), recording the continuous manifestations of the Azerbaijani policy of ethnic hatred towards the Armenians of Artsakh, the Human Rights Defender’s office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“The rights to life, safe environment, education, health care, property and other rights are violated on a daily basis in Artsakh" said the Human Rights Defender.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Olsen inquired also about the Police reform process in Armenia.

Among other matters related to human rights in Armenia, Kristinne Grigoryan stressed the need for a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, as well as the need for an effective combat against hate speech.

Also, the parties outlined specific directions of cooperation.