Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination, Armenia,
A/57/18, paras. 269-291 (2002).
COMMITTEE
ON THE ELIMINATION
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Sixty-first session
5-23 August 2002
Armenia
269. The Committee considered the third and fourth periodic reports of Armenia,
which were due on 23 July 1998 and 2000, respectively, submitted as one document
(CERD/C/372/Add.3), at its 1529th and 1530th meetings (CERD/C/SR.1529 and 1530),
held on 7 and 8 August 2002. At its 1537th meeting (CERD/C/SR.1537) held on 14
August 2002, it adopted the following concluding observations.
A. Introduction
270. The Committee welcomes the third and fourth periodic reports as well as the
additional information that the State party's delegation provided during its oral
presentation, and expresses its appreciation for the opportunity to continue its
dialogue with the State party.
271. The Committee notes that the report contains information mainly on the legal
framework for the protection of the rights of minorities and does not give sufficient
information on the implementation of such legislation or on the extent to which
minority communities enjoy the protection afforded by the Convention.
B. Positive aspects
272. The Committee notes with satisfaction that, notwithstanding the difficulties
resulting from the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict and the serious economic and social
challenges, the State party has made progress in the area of legislative reform.
It notes with special interest that Armenia has ratified a number of international
and regional human rights instruments.
273. The Committee welcomes the establishment of institutions relevant to the
promotion and protection of human rights, such as the Human Rights Commission
and the Coordinating Council on National Minorities. It notes with interest that
a draft law on an ombudsman has been prepared and submitted to the National Assembly
and a draft law on national minorities is being considered. The Committee encourages
the State party to work towards formalizing these drafts and to keep the Committee
informed of developments in this regard.
274. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the delegation regarding
special programmes on tolerance and various activities for the promotion of human
rights which are broadcast on television and distributed to NGOs. It also welcomes
the holding of a seminar on religious and ethnic tolerance.
C. Concerns and recommendations
275. The Committee is concerned about the view expressed in the State party report
that Armenia is a mono-ethnic State, and the inconsistency of this notion with
the existence of several national and ethnic minorities, although they are not
very numerous. While welcoming the background information provided on each national
and ethnic group, the Committee recommends that the State party carefully analyse
the situation and reflect the reality. The Committee invites the State party to
provide detailed disaggregated data on the demographic composition of the population,
as well as on the socio-economic situation of ethnic and national groups, including
a gender perspective, in subsequent reports, so as to facilitate understanding
of their situation.
276. The Committee reiterates its concern that the Penal Code currently in force,
specifically article 69, is not in compliance with article 4 of the Convention.
While noting the statement by the delegation that a new penal code is expected
to enter into force in 2003, the Committee remains concerned that the drafting
of new articles 220 et seq. of the new code may not fully address all the elements
of article 4, in particular as regards the prohibition of organizations which
promote and incite racial discrimination. The Committee recommends that prior
to its coming into force the State party review the new penal code in the light
of the provisions of the Constitution as well as of the provisions of article
4 of the Convention so as to ensure that the new penal code gives effect to all
requirements.
277. The Committee notes with concern that no statistics on cases relating to
racial discrimination have been provided and reiterates its request that such
information be included in the next periodic report. The Committee reminds the
State party that the absence of complaints and legal action by victims of racial
discrimination could possibly be an indication of a lack of awareness of available
legal remedies. The State party is requested to supply the relevant provisions
in the national legislation and to inform the public of the availability of all
legal remedies. The Committee is concerned that no reply was received from the
delegation with regard to allegations of discrimination against Yezidis by police
and local authorities and lack of response by police to crimes committed against
this minority by other citizens, and requests the State party to provide an answer
in the next periodic report.
278. The Committee expresses its concern at the lack of representation of ethnic
and national minorities in the National Assembly. It recommends that the State
party take the necessary steps to secure due representation of minorities in the
National Assembly and include relevant information relating thereto in its next
report.
279. The Committee is concerned at the high rate of unemployment in the State
party and regrets that no disaggregated data are available on the impact on ethnic
and national minorities. It notes a lack of sufficient disaggregated information
on the participation of minorities in the economic and social development of the
country. The Committee reiterates its request for disaggregated data on access
to health care, housing and employment by persons belonging to ethnic and national
minorities.
280. While noting the adoption in 1999 of the Education Act guaranteeing the right
to education without discrimination, the Committee remains concerned about inadequate
access by minority children to education in their mother tongue and reiterates
its recommendation that the State party take measures to ensure, wherever possible,
such access.
281. The Committee encourages the Government to allocate resources to facilitate
publications and broadcasting in minority languages. It welcomes the statement
by the delegation that a special budget is to be established for that purpose.
282. The Committee is concerned about reports of obstacles imposed on religious
organizations other than the Armenian Apostolic Church, such as those on carrying
out charity work and on building places of worship. It urges the Government to
take all necessary measures to ensure freedom of religion to all, without discrimination.
283. While noting that the State party, through its policy and legislation, does
not engage in any discriminatory acts against refugees, some concern has been
expressed that under article 25 of the Law on Refugees, restrictive measures are
applied against asylum-seekers other than ethnic Armenians who fled Azerbaijan
between 1988 and 1992 and that these measures may lead to discrimination on the
basis of ethnic origin. The Committee welcomes the delegation's statement as to
the possibility of reviewing the relevant provision.
284. The Committee requests that in its next periodic report, the State party
provide additional information on the specific activities and achievements of
the Coordinating Council of National Minorities, particularly with regard to the
promotion of human rights, as well as on the activities of the Union of Nationalities
and the Centre for the Settlement of Conflicts. The Committee encourages the State
party to strengthen these institutions, bearing in mind the importance of such
bodies for the achievement of the objectives of the Convention.
285. Noting that the State party is in the process of considering the establishment
of an ombudsman, the Committee encourages the State party to accelerate and complete
this process and to provide the necessary human and financial resources to enable
the ombudsman to carry out his/her tasks in an effective way. The Committee requests
the State party to provide information on the establishment, responsibilities
and achievements of this institution in its next periodic report, particularly
with regard to issues of racial discrimination.
286. The Committee encourage the State party to consult with organizations of
civil society working in the area of combating racial discrimination during the
preparation of the next periodic report.
287. The Committee notes that the State party has not made the declaration provided
for in article 14 of the Convention and invites the State party to consider doing
so.
288. The Committee recommends that the State party ratify the amendments to article
8, paragraph 6, of the Convention, adopted on 15 January 1992 at the Fourteenth
Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and endorsed by the General Assembly
in its resolution 47/111.
289. The Committee recommends that the State party take into account the relevant
parts of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action when implementing the
Convention in the domestic legal order, in particular in respect of articles 2
to 7 of the Convention, and that it include in its next periodic report information
on action plans or other measures taken to implement the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action at the national level.
290. The Committee recommends that the State party's reports be made readily available
to the public from the time they are submitted and that the observations of the
Committee on these reports be similarly publicized.
291. The Committee recommends that the State party submit its fifth periodic report
jointly with its sixth periodic report, due on 23 July 2004, and that it address
all points raised in the present concluding observations.
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