On December 6, the European Union and Armenia held the third round of human rights dialogue in Yerevan. As of today, the European Union is engaged in dedicated human rights discussions with close to 40 countries around the world.

The Armenian delegation was headed by Mr. Mr. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. The EU Delegation was headed by Dr. Riina Kionka, Head of the Human Rights Policy Guidelines Division at the European External Action Service.

The dialogue allowed for an exchange of views on the human rights situation both inArmeniaand in the EU. In particular, the talks focused on: the national framework for the protection of human rights; the reform of the judiciary; elections and electoral framework, freedom of expression and information, freedom of assembly and association, including the functioning of civil society; rights of vulnerable groups.

The EU and Armenia also discussed human rights cooperation within international organizations, in particular at the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The EU andArmeniaagreed to hold an EU-Armenia civil society seminar before the next round of the human rights dialogue.

In keeping with the EU’s practice of incorporating the voice of society into its meetings on human rights with third countries, the EU met representatives of Armenian NGOs and international NGOs prior to the human rights dialogue.