OSCE Office marks the International Human Rights Day in Armenia

YEREVAN, 7 December 2007 - An art exhibition, the re-opening of a renovated law library and a human rights discussion are among the activities the OSCE Office in Yerevan is supporting to mark International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

The exhibition of handicrafts by imprisoned Armenian women and juveniles is the result of a six-month project at the Abovian institution, which offered wood-carving courses for incarcerated women and juveniles.

"The courses helped prepare prisoners for some of the challenges they will face in their future," said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office.

The cultural non-governmental organization Trtu offered the course with the support of the Armenian Justice Ministry and the OSCE Office in Yerevan. The exhibition will be open to the public from 7 to 17 December (Address: State People's Museum on 64 Abovyan Str.)

The Office also supported the re-opening of the renovated library of the Chamber of Advocates on 6 December, which contains books and other printed materials from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and other sources. The library targets legal specialists, advocates and public defenders.

"I believe the library will be a useful tool for upgrading the skills of lawyers and raising the efficiency of their daily work, which in turn will contribute to the overall system of protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the importance of which can never be overestimated," said Ambassador Kapinos.

In addition, the Office together with the Armenian Ombudsman Institution plans to organize a discussion on 10 December to assess activities in the field of protection and promotion of human rights in the country. Representatives of governmental, non-governmental and international organizations as well as human rights activists are invited to take part.

On 11 December, a ceremony will be held to mark the laying of the foundation of a new human rights school in Vanadzor, Lori province and the start of a fund-raising campaign for the school. The Armenian Constitutional Right Protection Centre NGONGO
non-governmental organization will operate the school. Local authorities and the United Nations Department for Public Information will also participate in the event.