There
have been discussions in certain mass media and social media platforms alleging
that the Human Rights Defender fails to present the systemic issues in the
field of preventing torture and other forms of ill-treatment in Armenia within
the framework of international mechanisms. Such a claim obviously does not
correspond to reality.
The
Human Rights Defender’s Office raises systemic problems and concerns in the
field of prevention of torture and other forms of ill-treatment in Armenia with
international partners within the framework of various international
procedures.
The
Human Rights Defender has presented the systemic problems and concerns in the
field of prevention of torture and other forms of ill-treatment in Armenia both
within the framework of various UN human rights mechanisms, as well as during
meetings and discussions with international partners in various formats.
Problems
related to ill-treatment were most recently presented by the Defender within
the framework of the 82nd session of the United Nations Committee against
Torture.
In
particular, an alternative report was submitted to the UN Committee against
Torture, which, among other things, addressed systemic issues related to the
prevention of ill-treatment and the prohibition of torture, including the need
to demonstrate a systemic approach to the problem of disproportionate use of
force by the police during assemblies and its solution for many years, the
failure to ensure the minimum rights of persons deprived of their liberty,
issues related to the effectiveness of the investigation of torture cases, etc.
The alternative report, as well as the annual and ad hoc reports of the Human
Rights Defender, are presented in a public format. Moreover, numerous problems
in the field of prevention of torture and ill-treatment were presented in
detail during a confidential meeting with members of the UN Committee against
Torture, where the Defender addressed both systemic problems and problematic
aspects of specific cases.
The
Human Rights Defender’ Office is actively involved in raising human rights
problems in the country through the submission of reports in various
international legal procedures, including within the framework of various UN
mechanisms, which are not mutually exclusive, but complementary. Moreover, any
public information submitted within the framework of UN procedures is available
to other UN mechanisms. In addition, the Defender is constantly communicating
with international partners and constantly presents the systemic problems
existing in Armenia.
The
Human Rights Defender once again emphasizes the importance of ongoing efforts
to strengthen domestic guarantees against torture and reaffirms the
institution’s commitment to ensuring respect for human dignity and the absolute
prohibition of torture in Armenia.
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