The first joint Steering Committee (SC) Meeting of the Projects “Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Detention” and “Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia” was held on 15 March 2023 to mark the beginning of these two Projects and agree on Plans of Action
During the opening Mr Levon Balyan, Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia, emphasized the significance of ongoing co-operation among the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice in the fields of probation, and penitentiary, highlighting the importance of its continuation.  

Mr Armen Nazaryan, Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia was also in attendance of the SC meeting, and he underlined the utmost importance of the process of transfer of the prison health care service from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Health. A careful planning and organisation of this transfer and continuation of care provided to inmates will be essential for the whole process.   

The overall goals and results to be achieved within the framework of two Projects, as well as the Work Plan for the period of March – December 2023 were presented during the meeting. The members of the SC provided comments and suggestions and approved the overall and the 9-month Work Plans.  

The above-mentioned Projects are financed within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026.