OSCE Office in Yerevan supports educational and recreational activities for juveniles at Abovyan pre-trial detention centre

ABOVYAN, Armenia 22 December 2009 - The OSCE Office in Yerevan donated educational and recreational resources for the juvenile pre-trial detention centre in Abovyan today as part of activities to support the improvement of conditions of persons deprived of their liberty. 

The Office donated equipment for an indoor sports centre and leisure activities, books and other reading materials for the library.

"This support for the Abovyan pre-trail detention centre is part of the Office's efforts to assist the Armenian Justice Ministry in its efforts to improve conditions for persons deprived of their liberty," said Carel Hofstra, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. "Alongside our assistance with capacity building and legislative and procedural improvements to secure the rights of incarcerated juveniles to education and health, a donation like this gives them the chance, while in detention, to engage in sports and learn."

Since 2003, the Office has assisted the Criminal-Executive Department of the Justice Ministry to reform the criminal justice system in Armenia and improve the conditions of persons deprived of their liberty.

In light of continuing penitentiary system reforms, the Office assists the Criminal-Executive Department to strengthen the professional capacity of penitentiary institution staff in line with international standards and practices. An OSCE expert is currently assessing the training needs of the criminal-executive staff in the legal, social and psychological spheres to direct future training initiatives.