From September 30 to October 4, the representatives of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia conducted an experience exchange visit to the French Republic with the support of the Association of Ombudsmen and Mediators of la Francophonie (AOMF). During the visit, the Defender's representatives met with representatives of the French Ombudsman Office.
The mandate of the French Ombudsman, fields of activities, as well as the directions of cooperation with the judicial authorities and non-governmental organizations were presented. Current challenges in the field of human rights protection in Armenia and France were also discussed during the meetings.
Within the framework of the visit, the RA Human Rights Defender's activities and mandate were also presented. In particular, the activities of the Defender as the National Preventive Mechanism were highlighted, the Defender’s mandate to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the UN Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on the Rights of the Child was emphasized. The experience of the RA Ombudsman in being a third party in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) was underlined.
At the end of the visit, the parties expressed their readiness to strengthen the cooperation between the two institutions.