Today marks the 69th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an historic document that meant to lay out the basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. It was motivated by the horrific experiences of the two world wars and it was the first time that countries agreed to collectively draft a document on a comprehensive statement of inalienable human rights.

Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

The spirit of brotherhood is a concept that several politicians in Armenia can't seem to grasp. Neither do they understand that all human beings, irrespective of their rank or position in society, have the inalienable right to dignity.

“Qu'ils mangent de la brioche”

Hakob Hakboyan, a deputy in the National Assembly is a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, and also chairs the Parliamentary Commission on Healthcare and Social Affairs. Talking about how inflation would impact the country’s poor, Hakobyan made a flippant remark, which sounded much like a saying attributed to Marie Antoinette when she was told about the starving peasants in France: “Let them eat cake.”

Hakobyan explained that Armenia’s poor typically spend less and consequently, they will instinctively avoid purchasing expensive goods. He went on to say, “The state policy is that if inflation will impact the poor, they should be protected. Now, there is no need for the state to address this issue as poor people have a habit of avoiding expensive items.”

Inflation in Armenia has not only affected luxury items, but the price of staples such as meat, butter, bread and eggs. The cost of butter increased by almost 40 percent recently, making it almost unattainable for many in Armenia.

Khosrov Harutyunyan, another member of parliament from the Republican Party faction said that many of the price hikes are not necessarily conditioned by economic factors within the country, but because of fluctuations in the international market. He tried to explain that there are certain segments of Armenia’s population who only buy potatoes, therefore they would continue to purchase only potatoes and hence would not be impacted by the rise of costs for other foodstuffs, which they can’t purchase anyway. The question that Mr. Harutyunyan didn’t address is why so many families continue to survive on potatoes.

The obligation to protect, promote and ensure the enjoyment of human rights is the prime responsibility of the state. Yes, it is the responsibility of Armenia’s government to address the continuing rates of poverty, to address the health and nutrition of our children, to address and ensure a quality of life that envisions dignity and rights envisioned by the Universal Declaration, to which Armenia is a signatory.