Armenian Ombudsman presents OSCE-supported report on disciplinary policy in the army

YEREVAN, 27 May 2009 - A report on human rights protection and disciplinary policy in the armed forces of Armenia prepared by experts from the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Human Rights Defender's Office was presented today.

The study looks at human rights protection in the context of disciplinary policy in the army. It provides legal guidance in the fields of disciplinary offences and penalties, the commanders' responsibilities and disciplinary procedure to ensure that human rights are protected.

"Respect for the rule of law and civil oversight over human rights protection in the armed forces are fundamental in a democratic society," said Carel Hofstra, Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. "The study aims to ensure that internal discipline measures are applied in a fair and transparent way. Disciplinary sanctions carry a punitive character and that puts a great responsibility on individual commanders, and this study provides guidance on the guarantees and recourses that should be made available."

Armen Harutyunyan, the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, added: "This report highlights problems related to the disciplinary legislation and practice that often cause human rights violations in the armed forces of Armenia. I hope that the analysis and assessments provided by the report will serve as a useful guide in reforming the armed forces' disciplinary regulatory framework for the benefit of human rights protection."

The report emphasizes that offences that require disciplinary actions must be clearly defined, and gives a range of recommendations that commanders must consider when imposing a disciplinary penalty. It also focuses on commanders' responsibility to prevent offences and ensure internal order at the army. In addition, it addresses the correlation between access to information and confidentiality.

The study was carried out as part of co-operation between the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Human Rights Defender's Office that aims to promote democratic oversight over the armed forces in Armenia.