We keep silence to be heard:
and what do you do to break that silence?

In various states of the world, starting from 1996, the third Friday of April is being commemorated as a day of silence. The foremost aim of the Day of Silence (DOS) is to draw attention on discrimination and bullying towards LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) individuals and other social groups in educational institutions. Moreover, this day is meant to eliminate and prevent such phenomena for the educational institutions to become a safer place for everyone, regardless of students’ and pupils’ sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, appearance and any other social and personal characteristics.

We may witness phenomena as violence, discrimination, hate speech, mockery and abuse – behaviors that humiliate human dignity and violate basic human rights and freedoms – in almost all educational institutions of the Republic of Armenia.

On this occasion, on April 19, on the eve of the DOS, the head of Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO Mamikon Hovsepian pointed out that “Pupils and students are treated this way both by their schoolmates and fellow students, and by educators (professionals) and other workers of the institution. Even though almost every one of us had been a witness to such trends, we regretfully assert that it is not regarded as a problem in our society and it is, furthermore, seen as an ordinary fact. Therefore, no steps are taken in terms of researching such problems and, more importantly, in terms of preventing and overcoming them, in increasing and developing tolerance.” He also added that: “We often witness such cases. A 17 years old young boy had to move from three schools in the process of getting his education as a result of discrimination and bullying as he was overweight and had more fragile (feminine) appearance. And fellow students of a girl, Yezidi by her ethnic origin, refused to sit next to her in the university.”

Social worker Nvard Margaryan has stated that “Discrimination and violence occurring in educational institutions affect both the development and quality of the life of youth, as well as create additional social problems such as social alienation, manifestation of aggressive behavior and complex of inferiority, even attempts of committing suicide and suicide.”

Speakers of the press conference have afterwards spoken about the effective mechanisms of prevention and the need of elaborating measures, in particular about the necessity of having competent professionals in educational institutions as well as about the education and protection of human rights.

At the end, the speakers have added that on April 20, on the “Day of Silence”, the members of staff will keep silence and will not provide any service.

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“Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO has joined this campaign since 2010. European Union Delegation to Armenia and UN Department of Public Information assist the campaign this year.

More than a hundred and twenty Human Rights Defenders from 85 countries worldwide gathered in the historic setting of Dublin Castle from the 14th – 16 September for Front Line’s “6th Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders”.

The Dublin Platform, one of the largest gatherings of human rights defenders in the world creates a safe space in which human rights defenders, all of whom are at risk in their own country because of their legitimate human rights work, can speak freely, share experiences and work together to develop new strategies for security and protection.

The Dublin Platform was addressed by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Mr Eamon Gilmore TD. Welcoming the Human Rights Defenders to Front Line’s 6th Dublin Platform on Human Rights Defenders Eamon Gilmore T.D., said: “I am proud to welcome to Ireland a distinguished group of human rights defenders who have dedicated their lives to fighting for the rights of others. Human rights defenders make enormous personal sacrifices in the pursuit of justice, human rights and human dignity and put their own lives at risk to break the deafening silence of indifference and complacency. Without human rights defenders, the voices of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society would not be heard.”

Speaking at the Dublin Platform, HRD Mamikon Hovsepyan said “While you stigmatize or discriminate against others, think maybe one day you can be the victim of intolerance too. You don’t accept one’s identity today, others may not accept your brothers, sisters, or your children for just being themselves. Accept people as they are, and respect, to be respected.”

Founder and Executive director of Front Line Defenders Mary Lawlor gave the keynote address in which she highlighted the contribution of human rights defenders to the recent Arab Spring.

“In the last year, the Arab uprisings have unleashed a wind of change that has rattled tyrants not only in the Middle East but around the world.

In Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria, threats and brutality have failed to quell movements for freedom and human rights – and human rights defenders have played a key role. They will continue to play a key role monitoring reprisals, documenting atrocities committed by all parties and demanding justice for the victims”.

In closing Ms. Lawlor quoted the words of imprisoned Uzbek human rights defender Dilmurod Sayid. Suffering from tuberculosis: and sentenced to 12 yrs, 6 months in prison – he wrote “ the representatives of legal organs circumvented the law, closed their eyes to justice, protected and continue to protect the interests of those individuals, which essentially are corruption, oppression, injustice and lawlessness. In the path of the law, it was not only me who became a victim of the courts of justice, but also my family. I have lost the people dear to me, and my innocent 5-year-old daughter. I have become “guilty”, though I am blameless. I am not afraid of death – I live awaiting it. I lived, worked and walked along the path of justice, caring for those around me. In spite of everything, I have always and always will be convinced that my work is right”.

Dilmurod will not give up and neither should we. Justice, freedom and human rights will never come easy but neither can they can be indefinitely denied when there remain those with the courage to speak out and defend the rights of others.

Also speaking at the Dublin Platform were Maina Kiai former chair of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission and current United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression as well as United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Margaret Sekaggya who spoke by video link. They paid tribute to the courage and commitment of human rights defenders who embody the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

For further Information please contact:
Jim Loughran, Head of Communications, Front Line
Telephone + 353 1 212 3750
Mobile + 353 (0)87 9377586