OSCE supports public monitoring of pre-trial detention centres in Armenia
Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)
Aug. 8, 2006
YEREVAN, 7 August 2006 – Human rights non-governmental organizations
today began monitoring the conditions in pre-trial detention centres
as part of a project supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The project will initially run for three months. It aims to gather
information about human rights standards in the detention centres
so that suggestions on how to improve the situation and increase
government accountability can be made. A monitoring report will
be presented to the Armenian police that is in charge of pre-trial
detention centres.
"The establishment of a monitoring mechanism for pre-trial detention
facilities in Armenia is a remarkable step forward to establish full
public monitoring for all places of detention in the country," said
Lars Gerold, an ODIHR Rule of Law expert.
In recent years the OSCE Office and the ODIHR have supported the
creation and work of the Armenian Prison Monitoring Board, which
observes the conditions within Armenian pre-trial detention centres.
The ODIHR provided funding for the institutional set up of the board
for at least three months and assisted with training for the members
of the board.
The OSCE has invited Kassimir Khanev, Chairman of the Helsinki
Committee of Bulgaria, to provide advice and share experiences with
the Armenian monitors.
"Public oversight over detention centres provides an opportunity to
make sure that the rights of detainees are adequately protected,"
he said.
Mr. Khanev will participate in several monitoring visits together
with his Armenian colleagues. Earlier this year, the OSCE provided
special training for the monitors.