In 2025, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of
Armenia as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), continued its active and
consistent efforts aimed at preventing torture and ill-treatment. During the
year, a total of 59 visits were carried out, including 20 monitoring visits and
39 visits conducted as necessary, 10 of which were carried out with the direct participation
of Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan.
The visits covered various places of deprivation of
liberty. In particular, 36 visits were conducted to penitentiary institutions,
7 visits to court detention facilities, 6 visits to detention facilities for
detainees, 7 visits to psychiatric institutions, as well as separate visits to
a specialized care facility, an investigative department and a medical
institution.
Monitoring visits were conducted to the “Yerevan-Kentron”
and “Armavir” penitentiary institutions, as well as to the “Lori Regional
Psychoneurological Dispensary” CJSC, “Gyumri Mental Health Center” CJSC, and
the “National Center for Mental Health Protection” CJSC of the Ministry of
Health of the Republic of Armenia.
Monitoring visits were also conducted to detention
facilities of the Mush, Vagharshapat, Armavir, Tavush, Noyemberyan, and Ijevan
Central Division of the General Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,
as well as to temporary holding facilities for persons deprived of liberty at
the courts of first instance of general jurisdiction in the Shirak, Armavir and
Tavush provinces.
During monitoring visits to penitentiary institutions, a
number of systemic problems were recorded, relating to detention conditions in
places of deprivation of liberty, the sanitary and hygienic environment, the
provision of food and drinking water, the ensuring of dignified treatment of
persons deprived of their liberty and the organization of medical care. Special
attention was paid to the prevention of deaths of persons deprived of their
liberty, including cases of suicide, as well as to issues related to the use of
physical force and special means, solitary confinement, contact with the
outside world, and resocialization.
The deinstitutionalization process was emphasized in
psychiatric institutions, the practice of involuntary hospitalization,
procedures for the use of restraint measures, psychological support, awareness
of patients' rights, and other issues were monitored.
Problems were recorded in specialized care institutions
related to detention conditions, overcrowding, sanitary and hygienic
conditions, ill-treatment, food, and employment.
In places of detention and court detention facilities,
attention was paid to improving detention conditions, ensuring the provision of
food, medical examination, walks, communication with the outside world, as well
as protecting the rights of foreigners.
The means of transport used for transporting persons
deprived of their liberty were the subject of separate observation, in which
problems were recorded regarding the space allocated to the person,
ventilation, heating, security measures and first aid supplies, as well as the
provision of an environment adapted to the needs of persons with mobility
difficulties.
In 2025, the National Preventive Mechanism also carried
out extensive activities aimed at capacity-building and international
cooperation.
In total, 87 activities were implemented, including 7
training courses conducted by the National Preventive Mechanism, 14 training
courses organized for the National Preventive Mechanism, and sessions of the
Advisory Council on the Prevention of Torture adjunct to the Human Rights
Defender of the Republic of Armenia. Representatives of the National Preventive
Mechanism participated in 5 international events held abroad.
A delegation led by the Public Defender of Rights of
Slovakia visited Armenia and got acquainted with the experience of the Human
Rights Defender as a National Preventive Mechanism.
The Human Rights Defender, as the National Preventive
Mechanism, reaffirms her commitment to the prevention of torture and other
forms of ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty.
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