The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) held its forty-ninth session from 28 April to 9 May 2025, during which Armenia was reviewed on 1 May 2025.
Following the presentation of Armenia’s national report, 98 delegations took the floor during the interactive dialogue, offering statements and recommendations addressing a wide range of human rights issues. The delegation of Armenia reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing inclusive reforms and maintaining close engagement with international mechanisms and stakeholders. Armenia expressed its readiness to implement constructive recommendations while rejecting those it viewed as politicized or inconsistent with the principles of objectivity, universality, and non-selectivity.
In the framework of the 49th session, the Human Rights House Yerevan (HRHY), in cooperation with the Human Rights House Foundation, submitted a report titled “The Status of Human Rights Defenders in Armenia.” The report addressed key concerns related to threats and attacks against human rights defenders (HRDs), violations of freedom of assembly, police violence, and the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
During an advocacy visit to Geneva ahead of the session, HRHY representatives met with delegates from around ten UN Member States, urging them to recommend that Armenia take concrete steps to strengthen the protection of HRDs, ensure accountability for threats and attacks against them, and publicly recognize their role in promoting human rights. HRHY also called for reforms to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly, including safeguards against the excessive use of force by police and effective investigations into abuses committed during protests. Furthermore, HRHY and HRHF encouraged recommendations aimed at preventing the misuse of SLAPPs by politicians and corporations, advocating for legal and procedural protections for journalists, activists, and environmental defenders against judicial harassment.
As a result of these submissions and international advocacy efforts, Armenia received a series of recommendations from UN Member States aimed at strengthening its human rights commitments in these key areas.
Freedom of Assembly
Countries such as Poland, Spain, Colombia, Lithuania, and Costa Rica urged Armenia to ensure the safe and peaceful exercise of the right to assembly, enhance human rights training for law enforcement, and investigate incidents of police misconduct during demonstrations. These recommendations highlighted the importance of applying strict standards of necessity and proportionality in the use of force.
Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Norway, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Romania, Latvia, and the State of Palestine, among others, called on Armenia to foster a safe and enabling environment for HRDs, journalists, and civil society actors. They emphasized the need for independent investigations into attacks and harassment against defenders and for stronger safeguards both online and offline.
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)
Luxembourg, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic raised concerns about the misuse of SLAPPs to silence journalists and activists. They recommended strengthening the legal framework to protect whistleblowers and ensuring meaningful NGO participation in policymaking. Notably, Australia’s recommendation to amend the 2021 Civil Code to remove excessive fines for defamation—an issue highlighted in HRHY’s report—was not accepted by Armenia, despite ongoing concerns about its chilling effect on free expression.
Human Rights House Yerevan welcomes the recommendations made to Armenia and calls on the government to take tangible steps toward their implementation. HRHY remains committed to monitoring progress and advocating for reforms that ensure genuine protection of the rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and the safety and recognition of human rights defenders.