Overview of Human Rights in Armenia

Armenia is a republic. In the past few years this country has continued to improve its economic standing, yet has failed to improve its human rights record at the same pace. Demonstrators and human rights activists actively complain of police brutality and ill-treatment by the government. Those who object to Armenia’s compulsory military service continue to be imprisoned despite the country's commitments to the Council of Europe. Overcrowding of prisons, inhumane conditions for people serving life sentences, as well as deficiencies at psychiatric institutions, are other concerns which need to be addressed.  In 2003, findings indicated that both the presidential and parliamentary elections failed to meet minimum international standards and were seriously flawed.  In 2005, a series of constitutional amendments were approved by a national referendum aimed at establishing a system of institutions that check the power of the president and allow for a more independent judiciary. By the end of 2005, the courts were working actively to pursue charges and convictions against known criminals.  Since then -- that is, in more recent years -- issues related to freedom of speech have taken center stage.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

80th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.