On 3-4 June 2011 Office of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia (HRDO) convened already third forum in series of forums entitled "Human Rights. Defender's Platform". This time "Civil Society" forum was dedicated to the partnership with civil society organisations and brought together 130 participants from more than 85 human rights NGOs, international organizations, attorneys and media. Forum was supported by the European Union, World Vision Armenia and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The aim of the "Civil Society" Forum was to strengthen cooperation and promote active dialogue between the Office of the Human Rights Defender and leading human rights NGOs specialized in the issues of minorities, refugees, children, disabled people, women, military servicemen, rights of persons in detentions and penitentiaries, environmental rights, rights of the persons suffered from violence and torture as well as NGOs promoting the right to a fair trial and the right to freedom of expression.

The Forum was launched by the welcoming speech made by Karen Andreasyan, Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia who presented the most acute and still unresolved problems in each observed field as well as the idea, aim and expectations for the event followed by welcome remarks from the representatives of supporting organizations. 

Opening ceremony was afterwards followed by an informative session with the presentation of the National Human Rights Program developed by the National Security Council of Armenia as well as presentations of the main areas of concern in each particular field by NGO representatives followed by discussion and Q/A session.

Second day of the meeting was devoted to the joint work of the task forces composed of the representatives of the participating NGOs and agencies and focal points within the Human Rights Defender's Office specialized in 11 areas mentioned above. 

Task forces conveyed brainstorming sessions during which state of affairs of human rights in each specific area, causes and consequences of human rights violations were discussed, as well as the main spheres of cooperation and developed mechanisms of promoting networking, knowledge sharing and partnership between the Office of the Human Rights Defender and relevant NGOs were outlined.

At the end of the Forum MoUs in each respective field were signed between the Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan and NGO authorized representatives which aimed at identifying the scope of cooperation and supporting the activities of the sides in the spheres of mutual interest. 

The MoUs signed marked the creation of task forces composed of the HRDO and NGO representatives that will systematically track progress of human rights issues in the following sectors: minorities, refugees, children, disabled people, women, military servicemen, rights of persons in detentions and penitentiaries, rights of the persons suffered from violence and torture and the right to a fair trial. They commenced dynamic constructive dialogue and promotion of knowledge and experience sharing and further collaboration between the Human Rights Defender's Office and human rights NGOs in protecting and promoting human rights in Armenia.

The MoUs are available on the Human Rights Defender's website (Armenian) and remain open for signature.