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On December 8th, 2006 a discussion on Human Rights Day took place at the office of HCA Vanadzor. The goal of the discussion was to present the situation of Human rights in Vanadzor. Representatives from human rights organizations and mass media participated in the discussion.

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Arthur Sakunts, the coordinator of HCA Vanadzor, briefly presented the essence of “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” adopted by United Nations on December 10th, 1948 and the necessity of providing the application of its provisions. He mentioned that in the future other international and regional organizations also worked out documents defining human rights. Particularly, the European Convention of the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms with protocols was worked out by the Council of Europe. The countries that had ratified the convention, in fact, took the obligation to realize its protocols.
Arthur Sakunts presented that during 2006, 362 citizens applied to HCA Vanadzor for protecting their rights. The problems of the citizens were mostly connected with the rights to fair trial, property, housing, getting information, education, labor, social rights, as well as with organizations which are dominating and which have monopoly /water and gas supply, structures of providing communication/.
All the citizens have been provided with necessary consultation. The lawyer of the organization participated in 54 civil cases protecting the citizens’ rights. “Any violation of a citizen should be observed as a violation of the right of all citizens of the country. This proves that the system of human rights protection is not perfect, – mentioned A. Sakunts.
The participants accepted that awareness raising for human right protection is very important. As A. Sakunts pointed out “The first step to stop a violation is the public awareness raising.” He offered the representatives of NGOs to cooperate during the coming elections in carrying out observing mission.