October 17, 2005 - 17:34 AMT
Human Rights Defenders to Hold Conference in Armenia in 2006
October 17 Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly Artur Baghdassaryan met with Chancellor of Justice of Estonia Allar Jõks, RA NA press center reported. Armenian Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan was also present at the meeting. Mr. Allar Jõks presented the Estonian model of the human rights protection institute, which being a parliamentary structure includes both parliamentary control and human rights protection. It was noted that the Estonian model allows the Estonian citizens to appeal to the Chancellor with personal problems as well as with proposals on changes into the legislation. Chancellor of Justice of Estonia expressed readiness to cooperate with Armenian parliament and the Ombudsman. Artur Baghdassaryan stressed the importance of the positive outcome of the constitutional referendum, which will convey an impulse to the work of the parliament and contribute to the elaboration of a new law on Ombudsman. The parties also discussed the conference of the human rights defenders to be held in Armenia in 2006.