Building on the Council of Europe's commitment to protecting human rights in Armenia, the projects "Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Detention" and "Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia" set the agenda for first half of 2024. At their joint Steering Committee Meeting in Yerevan on 6 December 2023, the key project partners reflected on the achieved progress and adopted 6-months’ Work Plans.  

To date, notable steps include fostering collaboration among state agencies on probation and penitentiary services, identifying barriers to mediation in Armenian probation, enhancing the rehabilitation portfolio with a programme for probationers facing addiction issues, discussing the introduction of evaluation criteria and monitoring instruments for probation work, and revising data collection methodology for the Risk and Needs Assessment (RNA) tool.

Other  accomplishments encompass facilitating the transfer of the Prison Medicine Centre to the Ministry of Health, enhancing staff capabilities, pioneering the application of a new RNA tool for inmates in Armenian prisons, providing instructions on telemedicine as well as recommendations on resocialisation programmes, and implementing initiatives for self-harm and suicide prevention within prison facilities. Progress has also been made in fostering cooperation within the criminal justice system, exemplified by the launch of the the development of a comprehensive guideline for applying alternative measures to detention, such as house arrest and administrative control.

The Steering Committee will continue ensuring refinement of project plans towards their objectives in a comprehensive and inclusive approach, supporting a shared commitment of project partners to achieving a meaningful and sustainable development in the field of human rights and justice in Armenia.

The Projects are financed within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 and implemented by the Council of Europe.