On 11 April, 2010, a number of representatives of FIDH member organizations on behalf of FIDH 37th Congress placed a memorial tablet in the Tsiternakaberd Memorial park "Memory, Justice, Peace. From the XXXVII Congress of the International Federation for Human Rights, Yerevan, 10 April, 2010" and planted a fir in the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
The 8, 9 and 10 April 2010, during its 37th World Congress in Yerevan, FIDH elected its new International Board, and has defined the new main thrusts for its actions and strategies for the coming three years.
FIDH's 37th Congress pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and salutes the efforts of its member organisations in Armenia and in Turkey (Civil Society Institute (CSI, Armenia), Human Rights Association (IHD, Turkey) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT, Turkey)) and brings its full support to the joint Declaration that they have concluded in the context of the 37th FIDH Congress, including perspectives for actions identified in the Declaration.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 37th FIDH Congress, FIDH President Souhayr Belhassen issued a call on behalf of the Congress for the immediate liberation of all political prisoners in Armenia. FIDH also reiterated its call for an independent and effective investigation into the events of March 2008 and the disproportionate use of force by the security services. FIDH further expressed concerns about the electoral process and obstacles to freedom of the media.
The forum, entitled "JUSTICE: New Challenges - the Right to an Effective Remedy before an Independent Tribunal", will take place in Yerevan from 6th to 8th April 2010.