The head of ENNHRI sent an open letter to the Speaker of the National  Assembly of Armenia in support of the Ombudsman 

ArmInfo.The head of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) Caroline Fennell sent an open letter to the Speaker of the National  Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan in support of the RA Ombudsman,  recalling international standards applicable to adequate financing of  national human rights institutions.  

Thus, in an open letter, the head of ENNHRI emphasizes the need to  comply with relevant international standards when providing good  funding and resources to national human rights institutions, stating  that constitutional changes proposed by the Government may jeopardize  the financial autonomy of the national human rights institution.  The  letter emphasizes that the preservation of the financial independence  of national human rights institutions is vitally important to the  stroke of viewing their effective functioning.  "The proposal made by  the Government of March 11 of this year cancels the guarantee against  the regressive provision of funds to the national human rights  institution, which was considered best practices in Europe. 

The appropriate level of financing is one of the key elements of  ensuring the institutional and functional independence of national  human rights institutions when performing their mandate. Changes in  The provision of financing should not adversely affect the  effectiveness of national human rights institutions, "the pennel says  in the letter.  

At the same time, it is emphasized that the relevant international  standards, such as the UN Paris Principles, General Observation of  the Accreditation Subcommittee (SCA) and the Venice Principles of the  Council of Europe, should be followed to ensure the provision of  appropriate funding and resources to national human rights  institutions.  Moreover, it is indicated that adequate financing  should be able to provide a gradual improvement in the work of the  national human rights institution and the fulfillment of its mandate.   "If the national human rights institution was appointed by the state  with additional duties, additional financial resources should be  provided.  

Changes in the legislative provisions affecting the financing of the  national human rights institution require preliminary effective  consultations with all stakeholders, including the important role of  the national human rights institution itself.  Government bodies  should refrain from any actions that can reduce the effectiveness of  the work of national human rights institutions.  Significant changes  in the authorizing law of the National Human Rights Institution,  including the Financing Regulations, may entail a special  verification by SCA.  In the light of the above,ENNHRI encourages the  relevant authorities to assess the proposed amendment with full  consideration of applicable international standards.  

According to ENNHRI, it is necessary to preserve the best experience  contained in Article 8 (5) of the Constitutional Law of Armenia, "the  letter says.  On March 11, at a meeting of the government, a bill was  approved, which the authorities of Armenia intend to deprive the  defender of human rights of the constitutional guarantee of financial  independence. Such independence is provided for by the Constitutional  Law <on Ombudsman>, according to which the annual amount of  allocations provided for by the state budget for the financing of the  Ombudsman and its apparatus cannot be less than the allocations  provided for by the state budget of the previous year. In addition,  three vehicles were removed from the assets of the Office of Human  Rights of Human Rights. The Ombudsman of the Republic of Armenia,  commenting on this initiative accused the authorities of Armenia in  discrimination and attempt to limit the activities of the defender of  human rights.