OSCE ORGANIZES MEETING ON HUMAN RIGHTS OF ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
09.04.2009 13:13

The OSCE Office in Yerevan and the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organized a roundtable meeting
today on human rights and fundamental freedoms of armed forces
personnel in Armenia.

The event, hosted by the Armenian Defense Ministry, focused on the
human rights of Armenian armed forces personnel. Representatives from
the government and parliament, the human rights defender’s office and
civil society discussed how they could co-operate better in this field,
including on the issue of the oversight over the armed forces.

Representatives from the ODIHR and the Geneva Centre for Democratic
Control of Armed Forces presented good practices from throughout
the OSCE region, using examples collected in the joint Handbook on
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel. The
handbook describes the international regulatory framework for the
proper treatment of armed forces personnel and gives guidance on
how to implement these commitments. Meeting participants discussed
the handbook in light of the Armenian context and explored how its
recommendations could be applied in the country.

"Working with the authorities on the human rights of Armenian armed
forces personnel is a priority for the OSCE Office in Yerevan. Today’s
discussion contributed significantly to this,0 said the Head of the
OSCE Office, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos.

The OSCE Office has supported Armenia’s efforts to improve human
rights in the armed forces as part of its assistance in the country’s
security sector reform.

Toralv Nordbo, ODIHR First Deputy Director, added: "OSCE participating
States have committed to treat armed forces personnel in conformity
with international human rights standards, and doing so is also a
matter of good policy for the military as an employer and public
institution."