OSCE raises awareness on the rights of prisoners in Armenia

YEREVAN, 5 May 2010 - Two OSCE-supported publications - a guide and a brochure on the rights of detained, arrested and convicted persons in Armenia, were launched in Yerevan today at a round table held at the Criminal-Executive Department of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia.

The publications were elaborated and updated by a non-governmental organization, Civil Society Institute as part of a project "New Perspectives of the Prison Monitoring Group", supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan. The publications aim to inform the staff of penitentiary and detention facilities how they can perform their duties in line with Armenian legislation and international standards and to provide the prisoners with detailed guidance on their rights.

"I hope that the guide and brochure will serve as a useful tool of reference and guidance for the staff of Ministry of Justice and Criminal-Executive Department in their continued effort to guarantee the protection of the rights of arrested and convicted persons in line with domestic legislation and international standards," said Inna Yeranosyan, Human Rights Programme Representative at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Arman Danielyan, the Head of the Civil Society Institute NGONGO
non-governmental organization said: "We believe that raising awareness among the staff of penitentiary institutions in Armenia on national legal provisions and especially on international documents and mechanisms will help them to continue improving and promoting respect for human rights in line with international standards."

The OSCE Office in Yerevan since its establishment has worked together with the Ministry of Justice, state bodies and civil society organizations in Armenia to promote human rights protection in the penitentiary institutions.