Armenia Becomes 30th State to Ratify the Oviedo Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine

Armenia has officially become the 30th state to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, also known as the Oviedo Convention. The ratification is a big step in Armenia’s commitment to protecting human dignity and ensuring that medical and scientific progress is guided by ethical principles. The Convention will come into effect for Armenia on February 1, 2026.

The official ratification took place on October 15, 2025, in Strasbourg. During the ceremony, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Armen Papikyan, deposited the instrument of ratification in the presence of Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The Oviedo Convention is the first legally binding international treaty focused on the ethical use of biology and medicine. It aims to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals in relation to biomedical practices and advances. The document outlines the basic principle that the interests of human beings must always come before the interests of science or society.

By joining the Convention, Armenia aligns itself with other European states committed to ensuring that developments in medical research and biotechnology respect human life, privacy, and integrity. The treaty sets standards on issues such as informed consent, organ transplantation, genetic testing, and the use of biological materials.

This ratification strengthens Armenia’s cooperation with the Council of Europe in the field of human rights protection, particularly in the growing area where medicine and ethics intersect. It also reinforces Armenia’s legal and moral commitment to safeguard the dignity and well-being of every person as medical science continues to evolve.

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