The opening of a new workshop for the inmates in Sevan Prions, renovated with the support of the Council of Europe, marked an important step forward in Armenia’s ongoing penitentiary reforms. The modern facility, equipped with up-to-date machinery and training tools, is a showcase of the shift toward a more rehabilitation-centred penitentiary system.

The welding workshop follows last year’s contribution of the Council of Europe in establishing a woodworking facility providing for the first time to the inmates in Sevan prison, meaningful, out-of-cell activities. The existing woodworking facility has now been enlarged, and together with the newly added welding workshop offers broader vocational training and work opportunities, helping inmates acquire practical skills that can support their reintegration into society after release.

The welding centre was established through a grant provided by the Council of Europe to the Legal Education and Rehabilitation Programs Centre of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia. Both the Head of the Penitentiary Service and the Head of the Legal Education and Rehabilitation Programs Centre acknowledged the Council of Europe’s consistent support in their opening remarks, underlining the importance of initiatives that prioritize resocialisation and long-term positive outcomes for inmates.

An important highlight was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Penitentiary Service and the Legal Education and Rehabilitation Programs Centre of the Ministry of Justice. This memorandum enables the facility to function not only as a training centre, but also as a workplace, providing persons deprived of liberty with real employment opportunities during their sentence. This dual approach — combining vocational education with practical work — is seen as especially important, as it helps develop responsibility, work discipline, and self-confidence, all of which are crucial for successful reintegration.

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.