HRC60: HRHF and Human Rights House Yerevan urge Armenia to protect civil society and tackle SLAPPs

Human Rights House Foundation statement

HRC60 – Item 6 – UPR Adoptions – Armenia

26 September 2025

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Thank you, Vice-President.

This statement is delivered on behalf of Human Rights House Foundation and our partners in Human Rights House Yerevan.

We welcome Armenia’s positive engagement with the UPR process, and acceptance of a number of recommendations concerning the protection of human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society. However, concerns remain.

Human rights defenders continue to face harassment, intimidation, and physical attacks. Authorities have often failed to provide public support for human rights defenders or to ensure thorough investigations into such attacks.

Despite a narrative of there being “a safe environment for civil society”, our partners have recently witnessed attempts to silence the voices of human rights defenders when raising legitimate criticisms of state agencies.

We also remain concerned about the use of force and arbitrary detention by law enforcement during peaceful protests. There have been repeated reports of protesters and journalists being injured or detained without legal justification, with no perpetrators being held accountable. Failure to address these violations risks public trust in state institutions.

Finally, the rise of strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, represents a growing threat to civic space. Journalists, environmental activists, and women’s rights defenders in particular are targeted with legal actions designed to silence criticism and drain resources.

We therefore urge Armenia to:

1. Conduct prompt, independent investigations into threats and attacks against defenders and end the culture of impunity;
2. Hold law enforcement accountable for disproportionate use of force at assemblies, while strengthening training and safeguards to protect demonstrators and journalists; and,
3. Introduce judicial safeguards to recognise and dismiss SLAPPs, and ensure public officials do not misuse the legal system to intimidate critics.

We, and our partners in Yerevan, stand ready to assist Armenia in implementing these recommendations.

Thank you.