The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to Armenia from 3 to 5 February 2026, focusing on three topical issues: anti-discrimination, violence against women and the human rights of Karabakh Armenians displaced to Armenia. The Commissioner expresses his appreciation to the Armenian authorities for their welcome, excellent cooperation and openness throughout the visit. He also extends his gratitude to representatives of civil society and international organisations for their constructive engagement and valuable insights.

Progress in human rights protection

The Commissioner acknowledges Armenia’s substantial progress in human rights protection, notably through reforms of legislation on anti-discrimination and on gender-based violence, and the country’s commitment to integrating Karabakh Armenians. Achievements include: the introduction of new instruments to address violence against women, including police and court protection orders; the establishment of victim support services; the development of long-term integration for Karabakh Armenians, as reflected in the sharp increase in the granting of Armenian citizenship to them; and an active dialogue with the Council of Europe and other international partners to align national legislation with international human rights standards.

Addressing the legislative gap in equality

Despite these advances, the Commissioner underscores that Armenia still lacks a comprehensive anti-discrimination framework: the long-pending draft law on equality has not yet been adopted. The Commissioner calls on the authorities to swiftly adopt, in consultation with civil society and in line with international standards, an anti-discrimination law establishing effective remedies for victims and empowering a well-resourced equality body with a robust mandate to act on discrimination. He also recommends that the law explicitly lists all protected grounds under international law, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

Combating violence against women: from law to practice

Violence against women remains a pervasive challenge and urgent concern. Patriarchal attitudes and entrenched gender stereotypes continue to exist in society and create significant barriers to progress. These prejudices reinforce victimisation and perpetuate suffering. Additional problems include disinformation campaigns around the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) and harassment of civil society working on this by anti-gender groups.

Legislative reforms, notably recent amendments to the 2017 law on the prevention of domestic violence and the 2022 Criminal Code, mark progress. The establishment of support centres and shelters for survivors and awareness-raising efforts are positive initial steps. However, the Commissioner is concerned by reports of insufficiently victim-centred practice within law enforcement and the judiciary, favouring the perpetrators’ perspectives under the guise of family reconciliation. He also calls attention to the inconsistent application and frequent judicial reversal of protection measures, lacunae in data collection, and limited funding and reach of shelters, especially for women in rural areas.

The Commissioner welcomes the growing recognition among authorities that a victim-centred, prevention-oriented response is essential. Nevertheless, he urges sustained investment in survivor support and protection and increased and long-term funding for NGOs delivering frontline services. He emphasises the need for proper implementation of updated domestic violence legislation, and mandatory gender sensitivity training based on international standards for all professionals involved, especially police officers who serve as first responders to domestic violence. 

“Protecting women and girls requires more than laws ; it requires an unequivocal commitment to their application and a shift in institutional culture,” stated Commissioner O’Flaherty. “Police and the judiciary must be trained to recognise the realities of violence against women and domestic violence, ensuring that victims find justice rather than pressure to reconcile with their abusers”.

Long-term integration of Karabakh Armenians displaced to Armenia

The Commissioner acknowledges Armenia’s outstanding solidarity and practical support for Karabakh Armenians displaced to Armenia. The swift mobilisation of emergency assistance—housing, social services, financial aid, and educational opportunities—reflects Armenia’s welcoming attitude. As the country transitions from emergency relief to long-term integration, the Commissioner notes the challenges ahead: ensuring economic integration, improving housing opportunities, restoring identity and pension-related documents, securing citizenship or other ways to avoid statelessness, and achieving social inclusion.

The Commissioner welcomes the authorities’ recognition of these challenges and ongoing efforts to adapt support programmes making them more inclusive, prioritise the most vulnerable, and foster self-reliance. He encourages the Armenian authorities to adopt a comprehensive, well-resourced integration strategy, involving displaced persons, civil society and international partners. By strengthening social safety nets, removing practical and legal barriers, and ensuring opportunities for all—including women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities—Armenia can solidify its rights-based response to the displacement.

The Commissioner also recalls that the right to voluntary, safe, and dignified return remains important for Karabakh Armenians, and invites the authorities to ensure that displaced persons are fully informed and supported in making free choices about their future. He acknowledges the sensitivities around this issue amid the ongoing peace process and encourages continued efforts to uphold rights and respond to the needs of all displaced persons.

“A successful integration strategy must be inclusive and comprehensive. It is vital that the most vulnerable—including children, older persons, and persons with disabilities—are not left behind. This requires a well-resourced strategy, developed in partnership with civil society, that guarantees not only housing and work but also the right of every individual to make a free and informed choice about their future.”

Ratification of the Istanbul Convention

The Commissioner notes with appreciation the clear commitment of Armenia’s officials to ratifying the Istanbul Convention, which was reaffirmed at the end of the visit by Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan. He welcomes the fact that many provisions of the Convention have already been reflected in national legislation. The Commissioner encourages the authorities to take the final step and ratify the Convention as a matter of priority. He further recommends that the authorities address misconceptions and disinformation surrounding the Convention.

The Commissioner’s detailed observations are forthcoming.

During his visit to Armenia, the Commissioner met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Tigran Khachatryan; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan; the Minister of Justice, Srbuhi Galyan; the Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan; the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Arsen Torosyan; the Chairperson of the Court of Cassation, Lilit Tadevosyan; the Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs of the National Assembly; the Armenian delegation to PACE; and the Human Rights Defender of Armenia (Ombuds), Anahit Manasyan. The Commissioner also engaged in discussions with the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Françoise Jacob, and representatives of UNHCR and UNFPA; the EU Ambassador, Vassilis Maragos; and with civil society organisations. The Commissioner visited a shelter for women survivors of domestic violence and held discussions with the shelter’s administration and survivors. The programme included a visit to the Historical Museum of Armenia.