The Human Rights Defender provides protection for the individuals where their human rights and freedoms have been violated by state or local authorities. At a wider level, the Human Rights Defender protects and promotes human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals (and legal entities) by observing the human rights situation in the country, dealing with individual complaints and engaging in the process of improving national regulatory framework in accordance with internationally recognized human rights standards.

The establishment of the institution of the Human Rights Defender (HRD) of Armenia in 2004 was a significant step towards a more systematic human rights promotion and protection in the country.The Human Rights Defender is guided in its activity by the following principles: Independence, Autonomy, Impartiality, Transparency, Justice, Equality, Professionalism and Pluralism.

The Defender reports on the state of human rights protection, makes proposals for legislative reforms, carries out human rights education projects and conducts research. The 2005 Constitutional Amendments endowed the HRD Institution with a constitutional status. Further amendments provided for the parliamentary election of HRD, the recognition of the Institution as a National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT and introduction of state service in HRDO.