On February 17, Brussels hosted the 14th EU-Armenia Human Rights Dialogue, attended by Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan. The Armenian delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, while the EU delegation was headed by Dorota Dlouchy-Suliga, Head of Division at the European External Action Service.

The EU positively assessed Armenia’s progress in human rights-related legislation and policies, as well as the implementation of its Human Rights Strategy and 2023-2025 Action Plan. Armenia's commitment to addressing remaining challenges was also highlighted.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and the full respect, protection, and promotion of human rights, including within the ongoing visa liberalization dialogue. They also agreed on the importance of safeguarding freedoms of assembly, association, and expression, as well as preserving civic space. Police accountability and new legislation in this regard were discussed. The EU welcomed Armenia’s progress in law enforcement reforms and migration policies. Additionally, the two sides addressed improving detention conditions and strengthening human rights awareness within the armed forces. The EU called for limiting the use and duration of pretrial detention.

Armenia and the EU emphasized the importance of free and fair elections and efforts to enhance public trust in electoral processes. They discussed amendments to the electoral code and the challenges of disinformation and information manipulation.

Both sides stressed the need to uphold the principle of equality and combat discrimination. The EU urged Armenia to adopt a comprehensive Equality Law and a Gender Equality Strategy. The Armenian government presented its efforts to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, while the EU underlined the importance of ensuring access to community services. Discussions also covered efforts to combat domestic violence, with the EU calling for additional measures.

The EU and Armenia addressed the need to combat hate speech and hate crimes, including discrimination against LGBTI individuals. Children's rights were emphasized, with a focus on adopting and funding a new legal framework. Additionally, further strengthening labor rights was discussed.

Both sides agreed to continue cooperation in international human rights platforms.

On February 18, the EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom, and Security convened, where Deputy Minister Armen Ghazaryan delivered a speech on asylum, migration, and mobility. The meeting concluded with a review and agreement on operational conclusions.