Armenia Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan issued the following statement today to mark Human Rights Day.

Today, December 10, the international community celebrates Human Rights Day. It was on this day in 1948 that the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, making human rights, peace and development one of the cornerstones its work.

The year 2020 was accompanied by fundamental and systematic violations of the rights of our compatriots by the Azerbaijani armed forces. There were many cases of cruelty, torture, and inhuman treatment just because they are Armenians. Unfortunately, all this has not yet been properly assessed by the international civilized community, and the UN Rule of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which states that ‘no one should be out of the frame and that no right should be ignored’, has not become a real-life principle for us.

Each of us must make every effort to fully protect the rights of our compatriots both inside and outside the country.

Respect for human dignity, the guarantee of every human right, is the most important mission of all of us in an atmosphere of solidarity and mutual respect.

On Human Rights Day, I would like to emphasize the role of human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers who do their job every day to guarantee human rights.

Within the framework of the status of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, my daily work and efforts are aimed at improving the existing human rights structures in our country, raising public awareness, identifying and resolving existing problems, from children to the elderly, whether it is a closed or care institution, law enforcement or a community institution.