Helsinki Committee of Armenia

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The Helsinki Committee of Armenia (HCA) is Armenia’s branch of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. It was founded in 1995 and is a nonprofit NGO based in Yerevan. The HCA works to defend democracy and human rights in Armenia. Its goals include protecting the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, fighting discrimination, defending children’s rights, safeguarding freedom of assembly and speech, helping vulnerable people access health services, protecting natural resources, and supporting educational reforms. The organization also conducts conferences, seminars, rallies, and public discussions.

Avetik Ishkhanian was the chairman from the founding of the HCA until his death in 2025.

Key activities and positions
- In 2013, the HCA opposed Armenia joining the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, arguing it would threaten civil liberties and press freedom.
- During the 2016 Yerevan hostage crisis, the HCA urged police to respect the right to peaceful protest.
- In 2017, the HCA was accredited to observe polling stations during elections.
- The HCA praised democratic reforms after the 2018 Armenian revolution and noted improvements in freedom of expression and media.
- In 2018, the HCA monitored hate speech in Armenian media and recommended banning discrimination and hate speech in line with European standards.
- In 2020, the HCA and the Human Rights Defender of Armenia filed a case to the European Court of Human Rights about the rights of military servicemen and healthcare for people in detention.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the HCA urged the government to respect the right to peaceful assembly.

Publications
- The HCA publishes annual reports on human rights in Armenia, including updates on post-war conditions and political developments. The 2022 report discussed the situation after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the blockade of Artsakh.

Partnerships
- Since 2005, the HCA has partnered with the European Union, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly–Vanadzor, the National Endowment for Democracy, the OSCE, Open Society Foundations, and the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, and it collaborates with Helsinki Committees across Europe.