According to the he Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE / ODIHR, the work of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia during elections is considered to be one of the most successful, which may be useful to other countries (monitoring principles, activities on the election days, etc.).
Taking into consideration this experience, the Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, at a separate invitation, gave a keynote speech at the UN Geneva Office and presented the work of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia during elections. Following the Defender’s speech, the OSCE/ODIHR high-ranking representative presented the Defender as a reliable partner.
“Prior to every election a working group is being established, which works in an emergency regime during pre-election and post-election periods and in a 24-hour regime from the early morning during the election day, ensuring proper examination of oral and written complaints on alleged human rights violations addressed to the Defender. Moreover, the representatives of the working group are also dispatched to those regions where the HRDO does not have regional offices, in order to examine possible complaints regarding electoral rights on the spot and if necessary to provide rapid response. Close contact is maintained with the state bodies, civil society and international organizations.”, said Arman Tatoyan.
According to Arman Tatoyan, the issues related to the work of journalists and observers is always under the special attention. During demonstrations a permanent monitoring is carried out, the complaints concerning the rights of the participants are subject to special consideration. Visits are paid to police departments in cases of apprehension and arrest.
The Defender stressed that during the whole election campaign and on the election day, the working group is monitoring the mass media publications on alleged violations of electoral rights. Depending on the elections, the work of the Defender continues in the post-election period as well.
Taking into account the sensitivity of the work during the elections, it should be done in high public transparency.