On September 18-19 two-days capacity-building training for the staff of the Ministry of Health of RA on main principles of the Oviedo Convention and its Additional Protocols was held. The training was organized within the framework of the Project on ‘‘Human Rights Protection in Biomedicine’’ and was targeted at raising awareness on European human rights and ethical principles enshrined by Oviedo Convention, as well as at strengthening capacities and skills of healthcare professionals involved in decision making processes. The event, which was initiated by the Council of Europe Yerevan office, was conducted in a hybrid format.

The event was opened by the welcoming speeches given by Mr Maxime Longangue, Deputy Head of Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, Ms Lena Nanushyan, First Deputy Minister of Health of RA and Ms Laurence Lwoff, Head of Bioethics Unit, Council of Europe.

Different international experts presented speeches during the event. After the presentation on the Council of Europe Project on “Protection of Human Rights in Biomedicine”, the experts addressed the topics related to informed consent, medical secret and confidentiality, biomedical researches, impact on human rights in light of Covid-19 pandemic, as well as health literacy for equitable access to health care, health-related rights during emergency situations, reproductive healthcare, transplantation of organs and tissues.