HRC 55th Session: Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

Delivered by Ms. Nelli Petrosyan, Human Rights Officer

President,

Armenia welcomes the Special Rapporteur and thanks for the report that conceptualized his vision and priorities for the mandate.

Armenia remains firmly committed to the global fight against terrorism. We have acceded to a number of international documents in this regard. Most recently, in 2022 Armenia ratified the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism.

We share the concerns of the SR that counter-terrorism laws have been deliberately and discriminatorily misused against political opponents and dissidents, the media, civil society and minorities.

Our region has not been immune from such malpractices. Under the guise of the anti-terrorist efforts, human rights defenders have been intimidated, indicted and prosecuted for terrorism-related offenses. Moreover, a number of collective rights of people have been violated under the pretext of so-called counter terrorism operation. It is indicative that those who abuse the counter terrorism context for internal political gains also recruit foreign terrorist fighters in conflict situations.

In this regard we would like to ask the SR what in his view the mandate can do in identifying and addressing such patterns of cross-cutting violations?

I thank you

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