On
December 25, the inaugural session with the new members of the Expert Council
for the Protection of human rights in the Armed forces, adjunct to the Human
Rights Defender, was held.
Welcoming
the members of the Expert Council, Anahit Manasyan expressed gratitude for
their willingness to collaborate, emphasizing that through joint efforts, it is
possible to identify issues in the field, address them effectively, and find
solutions by engaging all relevant stakeholders.
During
the session, a range of issues were discussed, including cases of death and
self-harm in the armed forces, the reinforcement of discipline, challenges
recorded during conscription, and matters related to the rights of women in the
military.
Members
of the Human Rights Defender’s Office and the Expert Council presented
legislative and practical issues they had identified during their activities
concerning the rights of servicemen and their families. These included problems
related to medical examinations during training camps for reservists,
assessments of conscripts, adherence to health-related restrictions for
servicemen, the institution of officer-psychologists, discipline and intra-unit
relations in the military, responsibility within disciplinary and criminal
frameworks, challenges in the alternative service sector, and the status of
servicemen who are prisoners of war or missing. Additionally, discussions
addressed the social security and other rights of their families.
At
the end of the meeting, the session’s outcomes were summarized, and ideas were
exchanged regarding future actions.
The
newly formed Expert Council for the Protection of human rights in the Armed
forces includes representatives of active sector-specific NGOs, independent
specialists in psychology and sociology, and legal professionals.
The
Expert Council aims to create a platform for professional discussions involving
civil society, state structures, and independent experts. Its objective is to
collaboratively address human rights issues in the security sector through the
combined efforts of all parties involved.
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