April 27, 2012 - 14:25 AMT
OSCE to boost national minority awareness in Armenia

Awareness about legislative provisions and international standards is important to ensure protection of national minorities’ rights, Vladimir Chundulov, human rights coordinator of OSCE Yerevan office said.

“I believe we must be informed on all activities and events initiated by the governmental bodies and civil society,” Chundulov said at seminar on awareness-raising about the rights of the national minorities in Yerevan.

The agenda included discussion on the use of minorities’ languages in contacts with administrative authorities, awareness of minorities’ rights, as well as the role of the Human Rights Defender's office (Ombudsman Institution) as an important mechanism of protecting the rights of minorities.

Representatives of Armenian presidential administration, Foreign Ministry, state structures on national minorities issues, Ombudsman’s office, as well as Armenia’s national minority communities attended the meeting.