v HUMAN RIGHTS IN AND THE FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 6:30 PM 16 BEAVER STREET, 4TH FLOOR, NY, NY PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION HOSTED AT 16 BEAVER GROUP

Photo by Aramazt Kalayjian HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMENIA AND THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 6:30 PM 16 BEAVER STREET, 4TH FLOOR, NY, NY PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION HOSTED AT 16 BEAVER GROUP

WHY, DESPITE A STRONG • Video-reports from the court sessions, Let’s meet and discuss about WHAT DIASPORA, ARE HUMAN • People, have been removed from the DIASPORA can DO. Let’s first RIGHTS ISSUES LEFT TO THE their own homes, for no legitimate learn about what is happening in CITIZEN’S OF ARMENIA? reasons Armenia from those who have had • Harsh exploitation of natural first hand experience and find ways Meanwhile members and resources led to the real environmental to address these issues and HELP organizations within the Armenian disaster PEOPLE IN ARMENIA PROTECT Diaspora directly and indirectly • In police stations, jails, other their RIGHTS! assist the Armenian government to detention facilities in fact people are “develop” Armenia. The government treated as slaves Arsen Kharatyan, a human of Armenia, however, is mainly rights activist and youth movement occupied with developing its own The violence, abuse and corruption leader engaged in founding of criminal nature, with the assistance are characteristic of a situation in pro-democracy civic groups Sksela they receive from the outside. Why Armenia nowadays. The brutality and Hima. In the months following is this so? against journalists, activists and the presidential elections, he was people is openly practiced by arrested three times for political Does the Diaspora know what is state bodies, political figures and activity, was severely beaten and going on in Armenia? the police. The judicial system, was forced to leave the country. prosecutor office and courts became • Hundreds of young soldiers are the source of falsification, permanent Karen Hakobyan, musician, being abused, raped and killed in human rights abuse and torture. In and human rights advocate/trainer, the Armenian army by Armenian the last few years criminality within the president of Hujs (Hope) human officers yearly, the state has greatly increased, and rights organization for over 13 years. • Armenian parliamentarians, as there are terrifying facts of violence He has been monitoring abuses in well as the Speaker of Parliament in Armenia, which should not be a Armenia and organized a number of have their own security guards, who part of any nation, especially the advocacy campaigns on human rights terrorize people everywhere. Just one referring to its ancient history issues Karen has used his expertise last month they arrested villagers and global culture… to participate in policy making at (among them women, children and At the same time the Armenian government level (National Assembly elders) and beat them. Diaspora keeps supporting Armenian and Government) in Armenia and •Every election in Armenia since its authorities with statements and international organizations such as independence is a source of violence continues funding. UNDP Armenia and USAID. This year against people. In the municipal he had several public presentations elections of , last May, there HOW CAN WE DENY the existence and talks in New York related to were hundreds of cases of violence, of the crimes taking place now! How contemporary issues in politics and frauds and crimes. can we keep on blaming Turkey for arts. • Have you seen the videos of their denial, but be in denial of our brutality against journalists, shootings own reality WE must UNDERSTAND Contact info:k_hakobian@hotmail. THAT WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE com , [email protected] at people on March 1, 2008, during Design by Aramazt Kalayjian [email protected] post-election demonstrations? FOR OUR TIMES!!!