Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Detention in Armenia

Building upon the results achieved from the implementation of the Project “Enhancing healthcare and human rights protection in prisons in Armenia”, the Project “Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Detention” financed by Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023 – 2026 assists the Armenian authorities to further enhance penitentiary reform and prison health care, and the protection of the human rights of persons deprived of liberty. The Council of Europe is providing support at policy and operational levels assisting authorities to accomplish penitentiary reform goals and trigger changes in practices throughout the prison system especially after the adoption of the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedural Code as well as Penitentiary Code in June 2022.
The Project is implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Prison Medicine Centre, as well as other stakeholders including the civil society organisations.
The Project focuses on following priority areas:

Further enhancing the institutional capacity of the Prison Medicine Centre in order to provide quality health care in the penitentiary system;
Further consolidating the knowledge and skills of medical and non-medical staff on different topics on provision of health care;
Strengthening the capacities of prison staff to apply tools and rehabilitation programmes for persons deprived of liberty;
Harmonizing the regulatory framework on human rights with the new Penitentiary Code.

The key Conventions for this Project are the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), as well as the findings and the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
The duration of the Project was set at 24 months, and it was completed on 31 December 2024, with an overall budget of 550 000 Euros.

Project documentation

Useful information

project news

Back Empowering penitentiary personnel: Armenian penitentiary staff trained in suicide prevention

In an effort to address the issue of self-harm and suicide within prison facilities, approximately 130 penitentiary staff members underwent skill-based trainings on suicide intervention plans in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. The four two-day trainings, which took place in February and March 2024, were tailored for multidisciplinary teams that included psychologists and security staff from all Armenian penitentiary institutions.

The aim of this initiative was to equip these professionals with essential knowledge, skills, and competences for managing cases of suicidal behaviour effectively. This proactive measure aimed at strengthening the mental health support systems within Armenian prisons, thereby safeguarding the well-being of persons deprived of liberty. The trainees actively participated in dynamic learning sessions, exploring strategies suited to the distinct challenges characteristic of prison environment. These sessions offered both the theoretical foundation of suicide intervention and the opportunity to practice newly acquired knowledge in simulated scenarios.

The design and implementation of the training sessions adhered closely to the comprehensive "Guide on specific interventions for suicide prevention in Armenian prisons" developed earlier by Council of Europe national and international consultants.

This initiative marks a noteworthy progress in the Armenian penitentiary system, indicating a transition towards prioritising mental health and suicide prevention within prisons.

This event is part of the Council of Europe’s support within the framework of the Project “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.

Armenia 12 March 2024