EU and Armenia hold 15th Human Rights Dialogue in Yerevan

The 15th Human Rights Dialogue between the European Union and Armenia took place in Yerevan on July 1, with the sides discussing cooperation on human rights protection, democratic reforms and the rule of law.

The announcement was made in a statement published on the EU Eastern Partnership website.

The sides welcomed the progress made in advancing the EU-Armenia partnership since the previous dialogue held in February 2025, stressing that their cooperation is based on the shared values of democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

The meeting reviewed developments since 2025 and discussed the latest policy changes and priorities in the field of human rights in Armenia and the European Union. The sides agreed to continue cooperation within the framework of the EU-Armenia Strategic Partnership Agenda and the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan.

Referring to Armenia’s parliamentary elections held on June 7, the European Union and Armenia discussed the preliminary findings of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission and agreed to continue consultations following the publication of its final report, including on the implementation of its recommendations.

Particular attention was paid to promoting equality and combating discrimination. The European Union welcomed the adoption of Armenia’s 2025-2028 Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan, while the Armenian side outlined ongoing efforts to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. The discussions also covered the prevention of domestic and gender-based violence, hate speech and hate crimes, as well as the protection of vulnerable groups, including Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The sides also exchanged views on the protection of children’s rights, labour rights, trafficking in human beings, informal and illegal employment, and improving access to community-based services for persons with disabilities.

The meeting also addressed the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and expression, the role of civil society, and the importance of ensuring a free and independent media environment. The European Union also inquired about Armenia’s efforts to safeguard the operation of independent media.

The EU delegation was led by Deren Derya, Head of Division at the European External Action Service, while the Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan. Representatives of relevant Armenian government agencies, the European External Action Service and the European Commission also attended the meeting.

The next EU-Armenia Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled to take place in Brussels in 2027.