Translated with AI
On December 5, 2025, the fifth meeting of the Human Rights Commission of the Commonwealth of Independent States was held at the CIS headquarters, the press service of the Organization's Executive Committee reported.
Representatives and deputy representatives to the Commission from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as members of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the Commonwealth Member States to the statutory and other bodies of the Commonwealth, representatives of the Secretariat of the Human Rights Commission of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the CIS Economic Court and the CIS Executive Committee took part in the event.
In his welcoming address to the meeting participants, First Deputy Secretary-General of the CIS Igor Petrishenko noted that the Commission's activities are considered an important tool for coordinating the efforts of states in the humanitarian sphere, aimed at harmonizing the national legislation of CIS states with generally recognized international standards and principles in the field of human rights.
He explained that the Commonwealth places great importance on developing effective youth policies, developing education, and supporting young professionals, entrepreneurs, and scientists. In 2005, the Council of Heads of Government signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the Sphere of Youth Work, aimed at creating conditions for youth self-fulfillment, expanding exchanges, joint programs, and interaction between youth organizations.
Among the relevant documents adopted in the CIS in the area of youth policy, Igor Petrishenko also named the Strategy for International Youth Cooperation for 2021–2030, which aims to create a unified space of opportunities for the youth of the Commonwealth, expand their participation in public life, strengthen partnerships in the educational and cultural spheres, and support joint initiatives that promote innovative, social, and humanitarian development.
In accordance with this document, a number of projects aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of youth partnerships are being implemented within the Commonwealth: youth forums, competitions, exchange programs, and volunteer movements. Among the key events, the First Deputy Secretary-General of the CIS named the Year of the Volunteer Movement and the implementation of the projects "Gabala – Youth Capital of the CIS – 2025" and "100 Ideas for the CIS."
Other issues discussed during the meeting included current challenges to human rights protection in the context of the use of artificial intelligence, using Armenia as an example; the experience and role of the Human Rights Commissioner in implementing the UN World Programme for Human Rights Education in Tajikistan; amendments to the model law "On the Status of the Human Rights Commissioner"; the implementation of the CIS Human Rights Commission's Work Plan for 2024–2025; the adoption of the Work Plan for 2026; and several others.
