Professionals responsible for monitoring places of deprivation of liberty to strengthen their knowledge, practical skills, and inter-institutional cooperation in safeguarding the rights of persons deprived of liberty during a two-day capacity-building activity held in Tsaghkadzor on 20–21 July.

The activity brough together members of the Public Monitoring Groups of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Human Rights Defender’s Office, the Penitentiary Service, and the Prison Medicine Centre. The event provided an important platform for dialogue, peer learning, and experience-sharing, enabling participants to discuss practical challenges, exchange expertise, and identify effective approaches to further improving detention monitoring mechanisms.

Participants enhanced their understanding of key aspects for detention monitoring, including the national legal and institutional framework, monitoring methodologies, the prevention and documentation of torture and ill-treatment, healthcare and mental health in detention, the protection of vulnerable groups, effective reporting and follow-up procedures. The activity also provided a valuable forum for exchanging experience, discussing practical challenges and strengthening cooperation between institutions involved in safeguarding the rights of persons deprived of liberty.

By reinforcing professional capacities, fostering inter-institutional dialogue, and promoting the exchange of good practices, the activity supported stronger national safeguards and contributed to improving protection of the rights of persons deprived of liberty in line with European human rights standards.

These events is part of the Council of Europe’s support within the framework of the Project “Further strengthening the protection of the rights of persons in detention” that assists the national authorities to further enhance penitentiary reform, prison health care and the protection of human rights of persons deprived of liberty. The Project is financed within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 and implemented by the Council of Europe.