Armenia has yet to implement Council of Europe recommendations on integration strategy for Artsakh resident, says ECRI

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the independent expert body of the Council of Europe, has published its assessment of Armenia’s implementation of the recommendations given in 2023.

At that time, Armenia’s authorities were urged to focus on raising public awareness about the importance of diversity and tolerance. They were advised to carry out concrete actions in cooperation with the Human Rights Defender and relevant civil society representatives, including members of ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities, aimed at preventing and combating racist and anti-LGBTQI+ hate speech, violence based on hatred, and discrimination. ECRI acknowledged efforts and preliminary steps taken, including those within the framework of the 2023–2025 National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights Action Plan, but concluded that the recommendation has only been partially implemented.

Armenia’s second priority recommendation was to adopt an integration strategy, accompanied by appropriate financial resources and capacity-building, to ensure effective support measures for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. ECRI was informed of a number of measures undertaken by Armenian authorities in response to an unprecedented humanitarian challenge following the military operations conducted by Azerbaijan on Sept. 19–20, 2023, which caused the large-scale displacement of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Artsakh.

Nevertheless, ECRI concluded that in the current situation, its recommendation has not yet been implemented.