A/HRC/44/10 10. Armenia was implementing a wide range of reforms. One of the pillars was the judicial reform aimed at ensuring independence of the judiciary and restoring public trust in the system. The fight against corruption was another important priority for the Government. The Anti-Corruption Strategy had introduced an institutional framework focused on prevention, examination and education. The ongoing reform of the police aimed at transforming it into a more prevention-oriented body, and included the planned creation of a new specialized unit for witness protection. 11. The velvet revolution had contributed to the strengthening of freedom of the media and freedom of expression in Armenia. Nevertheless, there were several issues and challenges that Armenia faced regarding freedom of the media, including the issues of transparency of media outlets ownership, dissemination of misinformation, fake news and hate speech. 12. The unhindered exercise of the right to freedom of assembly was of crucial importance for the Government, which had taken major steps in bringing law enforcement agencies into compliance with international standards. 13. The Women’s Affairs Council under the Prime Minister’s Office would focus particularly on the elimination of violence against women and girls, their economic empowerment, and the implementation of gender mainstreaming laws and policies. 14. Armenia highly valued the involvement of women in building peace and security. It had adopted the first National Action Plan on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). Armenia attached special importance to ensuring the active participation of women in all stages of the conflict cycle and protecting the human rights of women affected by conflict. 15. The information technologies sector had registered a participation rate of 32 per cent for women. However, the level of representation of women in parliament and senior executive positions remained low. 16. The law on prevention of domestic violence had been adopted. Armenia had signed the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), and a public awareness campaign was under way. 17. The principle of non-discrimination was a key element within the Government’s human rights policy. Armenia had elaborated a comprehensive and stand-alone draft law on ensuring equality, which envisaged the creation of a specialized body within the Human Rights Defender’s Office, empowering it to assist victims of discrimination and launch investigations regarding alleged cases. 18. Regarding persons with disabilities, the Government had undertaken a gradual approach in transitioning to an inclusive education system and had developed legislation to promote deinstitutionalization programmes. The number of children placed in care institutions had been reduced in recent years, in line with the policy of ensuring the right of the child to live in a family. 19. The constitutional amendments of 2015 guaranteed seats to the representatives of the four largest national minority groups in the National Assembly, namely the Yazidi, Russian, Assyrian and Kurdish minorities. 20. The Government considered the Sustainable Development Goals as one of the most important tools for implementing comprehensive internal reforms. Armenia had been among the first countries to present its voluntary national review summarizing the progress on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Armenia had adopted creative approaches, particularly the establishment of the National Sustainable Development Goals Innovation Lab. 21. Armenia still faced a number of challenges and obstacles for the full enjoyment of a wide range of human rights due to the imposition of unilateral coercive measures in the form of land and economic blockades and the adverse consequences thereof impeding the full achievement of economic and social development. 22. Armenia reiterated the necessity to protect national, racial, ethnic and religious minorities from the threats to their existence, and continued its contribution to the fight 3