On October 4–5, the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation held a two-day event in Tsaghkadzor titled Raising Awareness on Hate Speech.
In her opening remarks, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan emphasized the urgent need for systemic efforts to combat hate speech. She noted that such rhetoric has disrupted social cohesion and threatens the steady development of democratic values.
“In Armenia, hate speech has reached troubling proportions and is used almost daily. It is spread across professional and academic communities, as well as by public and political figures. This is an extremely dangerous trend that can have deep negative consequences. Therefore, we must fight this phenomenon with united, consistent, and solidary efforts. In this context, both the National Assembly and public figures bear special responsibility to create and apply effective tools for prevention and response. It is vital for all stakeholders to understand that hate speech is unacceptable under any circumstances,” Manasyan said.
She also highlighted the role of the media, stressing that the information space should foster public awareness and unity through lawful discourse, not serve as a platform for spreading hate.
Other opening speakers included Jakob Wöllenstein, head of the South Caucasus Political Dialogue Program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Rustam Bakoyan, Acting Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs of Armenia’s National Assembly.
The event focused on analyzing the roots and motives behind the propagation of hate speech, especially via social and digital media. Participants discussed best international practices and legal approaches, as well as groups most frequently targeted by such speech.
Workshops and panel discussions addressed real-life scenarios and developed practical tools to counter hate speech and raise awareness.
Sessions were led by national expert Ara Ghazaryan and international human rights advocate Adnan Kadribasic. Contributions were also made by Anahit Manasyan, MPs, Appeals Court Judge Arsen Nikoghosyan, TV and Radio Commission member Gohar Mamikonyan, and Hayk Hovhannisyan from the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Attendees included Members of Parliament, judicial and prosecutorial officials, representatives from the TV and Radio Commission, and the Human Rights Defender’s office.
