Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Ninety-second session

24 April-12 May 2017

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideratio n of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention

List of themes in relation to the combined seventh to eleventh periodic reports of Armenia

Note by the Country Rapporteur

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided at its seventy-sixth session (see A/65/18, para. 85) that the Country Rapporteur would send to the State party concerned a short list of themes with a view to guiding and focusing the dialogue between the State party’s delegation and the Committee during the consideration of the State party’s report. The present document contains a list of such themes. It is not an exhaustive list; other issues may also be raised in the course of the dialogue. No written replies are required.

The Convention in domestic law and the institutional and policy framework for its implementation (arts. 2-4)

Information on efforts to bring the definition of racial discrimination in the national legislation fully into line with the Convention, including information on measures taken to ensure the effective implementation of the laws adopted in recent years to combat racial discrimination and to monitor compliance (CERD/C/ARM/CO/5-6, para. 8).

Updated and detailed information on the draft anti-discrimination law and on efforts to establish a body for the promotion of equality.

Information on judicial decisions related to incitement of racial discrimination and hatred by organizations and, in particular, on the outcome of the proceedings against the leader of the organization referred to in the Committee’s concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of the State party (CERD/C/ARM/CO/5-6, para. 14).

Detailed information on the current review of the Criminal Code aimed at extending the list of prohibited grounds for discrimination.

Updated statistical data on the number of cases of racial discrimination received and of alleged perpetrators prosecuted by the Office of the Ombudsman, including data on the number of complaints of racial discrimination registered and of perpetrators prosecuted and convicted, as well as information on compensation provided to victims (CERD/C/ARM/CO/5-6, para. 9; CERD/C/ARM/7-11 paras. 148-149).

Information on measures taken to review the burden of proof in judicial proceedings on racial discrimination (CERD/C/ARM/CO/5-6, para. 9 (c)).

Update on the implementation and impact of the national action plan deriving from the National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights, in particular part two, (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 40) and on the National Action Plan for Human Rights Education (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 153).

Situation of ethnic minorities (arts. 2-7)

Data on the socioeconomic situation of minorities and vulnerable groups, in particular regarding the right to work, housing and health (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, paras. 86-89 and 93-95). Information on any special measures adopted to ensure that disadvantaged groups are guaranteed the equal enjoyment of the rights outlined in article 5 of the Convention (CERD/C/ARM/CO/5-6, para. 12).

Updated information on the reforms to the draft Constitution, including on the quota system for national minorities (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 70).

Detailed information on the newly created local self-government system (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 45).

Information on language support in preschool education in areas with a minority population (CERD/C/ARM/CO/5-6, para. 15 (c)).

Detailed information on the outcome of the Education Improvement Project, the aim of which is to expand preschool coverage in impoverished rural areas where national minority communities live.

Updated statistical data on the enrolment of children from national minorities in higher education (CERD/C/ARM/CO/5-6, para. 15) and on the outcome of the implementation of the tuition-free slots system (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 109).

Information on the outcome and impact of the study on the population’s attitude towards foreigners (CERD/C/ARM/CO/5-6, para. 17). Detailed information on the implementation and impact of the “tolerance programme” (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 159).

Situation of non-citizens, including stateless persons, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers (arts. 5 and 7)

Updated detailed information on the draft law amending the law on refugees (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 28).

Information on the situation of refugees and asylum seekers, in particular in terms of their ability to effectively enjoy access to housing, health care and employment. Information on housing policies to afford all refugees adequate shelter without discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 32).

Updated detailed information on the implementation and impact of the action plan on integration and information on the policies for refugees and long-term migrants set out in the National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 40).

Updated statistical data on the number of applications for refugee and asylum status that are rejected or approved disaggregated by sex, age, country of origin and ethnic origin (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 30).

Harmful cultural or traditional practices (art. 5)

Information on the effective implementation of the amendment to the provisions of the Family Code on early marriage and information on the programmes that have been developed to address that issue, in particular within the Yezidi and Kurdish minority communities (CERD/C/ARM/7-11, para. 36).