On
the initiative of the Human Rights Defender's Office of Armenia, and with the
cooperation of the Council of Europe, a project to protect Human rights in
Biomedicine will take place for the first time in the territory of the Council
of Europe Member States.
Today,
on September 22nd, 2020, the first online meeting/session of the Coordination
Committee of the project "Human Rights in Biomedicine" took place.
The
aim of the project is to increase public awareness on the human rights
standards in biomedicine and medicine, increase the capacity of state
institutions, and legal and health workers to implement those standards, and
ensure the application of the provisions of the Oviedo Convention in the
Republic of Armenia.
During
the Session, opening speeches were made by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia
Arman Tatoyan, the Head of the Human Rights Policy and Cooperation department
of the Council of Europe Mikhail Lobov, and the First Deputy Minister of Health
of Armenia, Anahit Avanesyan.
"There
are issues and problems in the field of protection of patients' personal data
in Armenia. We have documented the issue of equitable accessibility of medical
services in Psychiatric Establishments and Penitentiary Institutions. In
particular, there are cases where the principle of informed consent to the
treatment of patients in Psychiatric Establishments is not protected, and they
are not properly informed of their rights. In Penitentiary Institutions, there
are problems related to the proper delivery of medical services, including the
absence of medical equipment, the deteriorating building conditions, and the
protection of the personal data of the patients. Sex-selective abortions, and
inaccessibility of medical services, specifically in rural regions/provinces
are also barriers for the protection of the health of the population"
stated the Human Rights Defender in his opening speech.
The
Human Rights Defender stressed the importance of increasing the role of health
workers, of strengthening decent working conditions, especially their social
safety.
The
list of participants of the online session included representatives from the
Ministries of Health, of Labor and Social Affairs, of Education, Science,
Culture, and Sports, of Justice. Representatives of the Standing Committee on
Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment, of the Academy of Justice, and of
the Embassies that assisted in the financing of the project.
The
Human Rights Defender's Office and the Office of the Council of Europe will
implement the project during the period of 2020-2022.
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