A/HRC/41/41/Add.4 19. The recent change to a new political system and major political reforms raised expectations of achieving higher levels of governance and transparency, opened more room for checks and balances and encouraged a more participatory and balanced policymaking process.6 20. However, over the years, the monopolization of power, the “oligarchization” of the economy, weak State regulatory institutions, distrust of the judiciary, growing poverty, socioeconomic discontent and, in some instances, the brutal repression of dissenting voices have limited the possibility of achieving sustainable political and socioeconomic development. 21. That in turn, has fuelled social discontent and left no meaningful space for dialogue, resulting in a series of anti-government protests motivated by different political, economic and social factors. In April and May 2018, massive protests throughout the country resulted in what became known as the Velvet Revolution and led to the election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister, marking an unprecedented change in the country’s contemporary history. B. Normative and institutional framework 22. Armenia joined the United Nations in 1992 and has become a party to all the international human rights treaties, with the exception of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (signed on 26 September 2013) and the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. It has ratified Protocol No. 6 to the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty. Armenia has accepted the complaints procedures under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, its first Optional Protocol and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Its accession to all complaints procedures under the international human rights treaties system would allow victims to access remedies and promote accountability for the respect, protection and fulfilment of the right to peaceful assembly and of association. 23. In May 2006, Armenia issued a standing invitation to the special procedures mandate holders. It has ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). 24. Armenia was reviewed under the universal periodic review in 2010 and 2015 and will be reviewed again in May 2020. During the 2015 review, the efforts made to improve governance were acknowledged. The concerns raised included the need to maintain an environment that fosters freedom of expression, including respect for the independence of civil society organizations and the right to assemble. Other recommendations referred to the law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the media and amendments to the Civil and Penal Codes in order to ensure that legislation was in line with international standards, in particular with regard to the right to freedom of association (A/HRC/29/11, paras. 120.141–120.59). 25. Armenia has a civil law system based on the 2015 Constitution, the supreme law of the State. The Constitution contains legal safeguards for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Article 5 of the Constitution stipulates that the norms of international treaties will apply in cases where there are contradictions between them and the norms of national laws. 26. Chapter 2 of the Constitution, dealing with fundamental rights and freedoms of human beings and citizens, covers the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. 6 4 Ibid.