In the context of the national strategy for the protection of human rights, the Ministry of Justice has developed, circulated, and is currently in the phase of broad public discussions on the draft law titled "Ensuring Equality and Protection from Discrimination" (currently the draft is named "Law on Preventing Discrimination and Protection from Discrimination"). This was stated by the Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, as reported by the police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to the minister, the draft defines the concept and types of discrimination, regulates the duties of state and local self-government bodies, as well as their officials in the field of preventing discrimination and protecting against it, and the legal grounds for protection against discrimination.
Commenting on public perceptions, Arpine Sargsyan noted that such initiatives are always accompanied by discussions, sometimes even resistance. She stated that this is not only the experience of Armenia but also of many countries when it comes to the institutionalization of equality.
The minister emphasized that it is the state's task to ensure the right balance: on the one hand, continuing open and informed public communication, and on the other hand, not stopping or delaying the implementation of systemic reforms solely due to fluctuations in perceptions.
In her assessment, from the perspective of internal public perceptions, the work is now easier than it was 5-10 years ago, as the environment has changed significantly. The involvement and expectations of society regarding human rights, including equality and the fight against discrimination, have increased, and the sensitivity of society has become more pronounced.
According to Arpine Sargsyan, in this logic, the adoption of anti-discrimination legislation is seen as an agenda item and an unavoidable step in the context of developing the human rights protection system.
The minister emphasized that the approach is clear: the law must be adopted, and the institutional mechanisms formed on its basis must be fully activated, ensuring Armenia's consistent positioning as a state committed to fighting discrimination.
