Human Rights and Democracy - Official Documents

The European Neighbourhood Policy
The European Neighbourhood Policy is the EU’s main framework for engaging with
the 16 countries which share its borders to the east and south. Human rights and
democracy are a central part of the policy. EU funding to support reform in the
neighbourhood is approximately €12 billion for 2007–2013.
Each year, the EU and partner countries agree action plans which detail reforms in
democratisation, human rights and the rule of law. Progress under each action plan
is monitored through sub-committees. Progress reports are published annually.
The second round of the EU–Armenia human rights dialogue took place on 7
December. This provided an opportunity for the EU to reiterate to Armenia the
importance of human rights as an essential element for Armenia’s development into
a fully democratic society.
On 15 June the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media commented that
amendments to the law on television and radio broadcasting in Armenia were not
sufficient to improve media pluralism. The EU encouraged the Armenian
government and legislators to continue to work closely with civil society, the Council
of Europe and OSCE experts to ensure that its broadcasting law promotes media
freedom and is in line with international standards.
In March, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights issued its
report on the conduct of the trials that took place in the aftermath of the March 2008
post-election violence in Yerevan. The report revealed shortcomings in Armenia's
justice system and made a number of recommendations. It is important that the
Armenian government implements these recommendations as part of its judicial
reform programme.
Although Armenia has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women and its principles are addressed in the constitution,
women continue to suffer significant discrimination in economic and political life. On
25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,
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