Council of Europe calls on Armenia to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation

Strasbourg, 13 April 2026 – The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on the Prime Minister of Armenia to adopt comprehensive and effective anti-discrimination legislation, in a letter published today.

The Commissioner welcomed the progress made by Armenia in recent years, including the development of sectoral legislation, new guarantees in the Criminal Code, and the proactive engagement of the Human Rights Defender. He also noted that the Ministry of Justice is currently preparing a draft law on the prevention of and protection against discrimination.

At the same time, Michael O’Flaherty stressed that Armenia should seize this opportunity to establish a robust and comprehensive anti-discrimination framework that meets international standards and reflects the needs of a diverse society. He emphasized that this process should be carried out in close consultation with civil society and international partners, including the Council of Europe.

The Commissioner highlighted several key issues that should be addressed to ensure full alignment with Council of Europe standards. In particular:

• The Human Rights Defender should be given a clear and strong mandate as an equality body, with adequate powers and resources,

• Legal certainty must be ensured in the protection of the human rights of LGBTI persons,

• Civil society organisations should be enabled to participate in anti-discrimination proceedings,

• Hate speech must be addressed through comprehensive legal mechanisms, including civil and administrative measures in addition to criminal law.

The Council of Europe continues to underline that establishing an effective anti-discrimination framework is essential for the protection of human rights and the development of democratic and inclusive societies.

The Commissioner also reaffirmed his support for Armenia’s efforts to adopt comprehensive legislation aimed at preventing and combating discrimination.

Full press release: https://bit.ly/3OB1xPm