Human Rights Defender urges end to discriminatory language targeting national and ethnic groups in public discourse

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Anahit Manasyan, has demanded that public discourse exclude language labeling and targeting national or ethnic groups.

“The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Anahit Manasyan, has repeatedly emphasized the impermissibility of discriminatory, hate-inciting, labeling and targeting language based on national or ethnic origin. Given the continued presence of such manifestations in public discourse in Armenia, the Human Rights Defender once again stresses that it is unacceptable to use terms such as “Turk,” “Russian,” “Kurd,” “Yezidi,” “nomad” and similar expressions as insults or as a means of degrading or targeting an individual or group of individuals. It is equally unacceptable to use expressions that directly or indirectly target people belonging to any national or ethnic group and contribute to the spread of discriminatory attitudes, intolerance or hatred toward them,” the Human Rights Defender’s Office said in a statement.

The Human Rights Defender stressed that a person's national or ethnic origin cannot be presented as a negative trait or used to discredit anyone. Such speech targets the national or ethnic group in question, deepening negative stereotypes and prejudices against its members.

The Human Rights Defender reaffirmed that political debate, disagreements or criticism of an individual's conduct cannot justify the use of labeling, discriminatory or hate-inciting language based on national or ethnic origin.

The Human Rights Defender demands that public discourse exclude discriminatory, hate-inciting, labeling and targeting language based on national or ethnic origin.

“Representatives of public authorities, political and public figures, mass media outlets and other participants in public discussions should play an active role both in preventing such speech and in countering it, guided by respect for diversity, equality and public solidarity,” the Human Rights Defender’s Office said in the statement.