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.

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Back Round-table discussion: collaborative solutions for effective offender rehabilitation

Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Penitentiary Service, Ombudsperson, and civil society gathered in Yerevan on the 5 December 2023, for a round-table discussion on resocialisation needs of persons deprived of liberty. The event aimed to address the crucial issue of helping offenders to reintegrate into society through comprehensive resocialisation and rehabilitation programmes.

Participants engaged in an in-depth dialogue around the resocialisation needs of persons deprived of liberty, exploring the underlying causes of criminal behaviour and emphasizing the importance of addressing these root issues.

The highlights of the event were the discussions about resocialisation means implemented by the Penitentiary Service and the “Centre for Legal Education and Rehabilitation programmes” State Non-Commercial Organisation, international standards and good practices as well as the needs and capacities of prisons in Armenia to implement resocialisation programmes. A proposed pilot programme was presented that aims to serve as a model for effective rehabilitation tailored to specific needs of the inmates. The discussion delved into the practical aspects of implementing this programme and challenges that can arise, considering the national context. Representatives from the Ministry of Justice and civil society expressed their support for the programme and pledged to work together to ensure its success.

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 06.12.2023