On July 16-17, in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Committee, at its 105th session, discussed 2nd and 3rd periodical reports of Armenia concerning the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The delegation of Armenia, which was headed by Ashot Hovakimyan, Deputy inister of Foreign Affairs, also included representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, the Prosecutor General’s office, the Court of Cassation and the Police.

The discussion of the report was held in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue, within the framework of the thematic questions issued by the Committee. The head of Armenian delegation presented the report, the process of implementing the obligations in the framework of ICCPR, the registered normative reforms, as well as the steps initiated and planned by Armenia.

During the discussion the Armenian delegation answered to questions raised by the members of the Committee, presenting particularly the constitutional and legal frameworks of the implementation of the Covenant, as well as the activities implemented by the Government for the protection and fostering of fundamental human rights and freedoms in the country.

The discussion of the report will be followed by the adoption of conclusions and suggestions by the Committee.

During his visit to Geneva, Deputy Minister Ashot Hovakimian also had meetings with Peter Maurer, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Sven Alkalaj, the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

During the meeting with the president of ICRC, Ashot Hovakimian stressed the importance of ICRC in the region and touched upon the issues concerning the cooperation between Armenia and the Committee.

At the meeting with Sven Alkalaj the importance of the cooperation of Armenia with the Commission was mentioned, questions concerning the implementation of the treaties in the framework of the organization by Armenia were discussed.