Human rights at police detention centres focus of OSCE-supported workshop in Armenia

A two-day workshop aimed to promote and enhance protection of human rights of persons in detention opened on 12 April 2016 in Dilijan, Armenia. The workshop is organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in co-operation with the Police and Public Monitoring Group for Police Detention Centres.

Some 20 police officers from the Police Headquarters, Medical Department and Police detention centres from the northern regions of the country and group of public monitors from civil society will look at the issues related to human rights protection and sanitary and hygienic conditions in police detention centres.

The workshop will also focus on legislative requirements and international human rights commitments pertaining to the treatment of arrested and detained persons, first aid, rights of medical care and other fundamental and inalienable rights persons in detention.

“We believe this workshop, as a joint effort between the police and civil society, will be effective in identifying good practices and advancing police reforms in Armenia having human rights as a cornerstone in the process,” said Radka Rubilina, Human Rights Programme Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Chairman of the Public Monitoring Group for Police Detention Centres Hasmik Sahakyan and Head of the Duty Desk Department of the Armenian Police, police colonel Vahram Abrahamyan gave opening remarks at the event.

A similar workshop will be organized on 21-23 April in Jermuk for another group of police officers and civil monitors from the southern regions of Armenia.  The activities are part of the Office’s efforts to support legal and criminal justice reforms and to increase civil society’s involvement.