A/HRC/41/41/Add.4 Annex Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association on his visit to Armenia I. Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association visited Armenia from 7 to 16 November 2018 at the invitation of the Government. The purpose of the visit was to assess the exercise, promotion and protection of the rights under his mandate in a moment of democratic transition following the Velvet Revolution that took place between April and May 2018. 2. The Special Rapporteur views the invitation that was extended to him as testimony of the State’s willingness to engage in a frank, constructive and open dialogue on the human rights situation in the country. He therefore presents his findings and recommendations in a spirit of shared endeavour and commitment, supporting the efforts Armenia is making towards the realization of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. 3. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government for its cooperation before and during the conduct of the mission and commends Armenia for agreeing to a country visit in a moment of democratic transition. He had constructive talks with high-ranking government officials and members of the parliament and of the judicial branches. He also held meetings with representatives of the Office of the Human Rights Defender, international organizations and the diplomatic corps. 4. In addition to holding meetings in Yerevan, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Vayk in the south of the country, where he met with the Governor of the Vayots Dzor province, and to Vanadzor and Gyumri and met the Governors of the Lori and Shirak provinces in the north of the country. He also had the opportunity to hold meetings with a wide range of civil society representatives, activists working on women’s rights, minority and environmental issues, lawyers and researchers and representatives of trade unions. 5. The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the country team and to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Armenia for their excellent and invaluable support during the preparation and conduct of the visit. He is grateful for the engagement of all the interlocutors despite a very busy pre-electoral period. 6. The Special Rapporteur believes that the effective enjoyment of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is of particular importance in Armenia, especially considering the recent political changes. He believes that his visit was also timely in view of a series of recent reforms and the parliamentary elections held in December 2018. In his view, the country is at a critical juncture where it can take further steps to improve on its human rights record and build a sustainable democracy and rule of law. 7. The Special Rapporteur took into consideration the views of the authorities and the recent history of the country when drafting the present report. He also conducted his work guided by several international legal provisions and standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in particular articles 21 and 22; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and other related resolutions and guidelines. 2