Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

Deputy Minister of Justice Armenuhi Harutyunyan received the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor, led by ICRC Protection coordinator Korina Eggenberger and the organization's president Artur Sakunts.

During the meeting, the concept of the law “On Missing Persons”, the main and key regulations of the developing law, its objectives, and the ways to achieve them were discussed."

Armenuhi Harutyunyan noted that the purpose of the law is to define such legal mechanisms in the context of protecting the rights of missing persons and their families, which will enable them to comprehensively regulate the legal status of missing persons, and their family members to receive social guarantees, including solving their health problems, educational issues, to exercise their right to information.

During the meeting, Artur Sakunts and Korina Eggenberger also expressed their opinions. 

Armenuhi Harutyunyan reaffirmed that the state's obligation is to protect the rights of missing persons and their families. Therefore, the law will represent a comprehensive approach to defining the legal status of persons who went missing during military actions aimed at the defense of the Republic of Armenia, during armed conflict, or under conditions created as a result thereof, including during ceasefires or in peacetime following armed actions. It will also address the consolidation of social guarantees for their family members and the improvement of the legal framework. 

The international committee of the Red Cross and the Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor have expressed their support and readiness in developing the law. 

An agreement was reached to have joint discussions on the developed project in the future.