On 1 July 2026, the European Union and Armenia held their 15th Human Rights Dialogue in Yerevan, reviewing progress since the previous dialogue in February 2025 and discussing a wide range of human rights issues, including equality, anti-discrimination legislation, media freedom, and the situation of displaced persons. The EU delegation was led by Deren Derya, Head of Division at the European External Action Service, and the Armenian delegation by Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan.
The dialogue took stock of developments since 2025, with both sides welcoming steps to advance the EU-Armenia partnership based on shared principles of democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. The EU noted Armenia's adoption of a Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan for 2025-2028, while Armenia briefed the EU on progress toward a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. Both sides underscored the need to combat domestic and gender-based violence, hate speech, and hate crimes, including against LGBTI persons. Special attention was given to vulnerable groups, particularly displaced Karabakh Armenians, with the EU reaffirming continued support for their inclusion. On child rights, the EU welcomed Armenia's 2025 legislative package on child protection. The parties also discussed labour protection, trafficking, and informal employment, and the EU welcomed the adoption of a law on universal health insurance, encouraging further measures for accessibility and community-based services for persons with disabilities.
Fundamental freedoms were a key topic, including freedoms of assembly, association, and expression, maintaining open civic space, and ensuring a free and independent media environment. The EU enquired about Armenia's efforts to guarantee media independence. The dialogue also covered human rights in the armed forces, detention conditions—with the EU urging improvements to address overcrowding in penitentiaries and expand alternatives to pre-trial detention—and the 7 June parliamentary elections, where both sides discussed preliminary findings from the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission and agreed to continue consultations on implementing recommendations once the final report is published.
The two sides confirmed their commitment to close cooperation on human rights bilaterally and in international multilateral forums. The next EU-Armenia Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled for 2027 in Brussels.