Human Rights Groups Campaign to End Torture in Armenia
25-06-2015 13:44:14 | Armenia | Human Rights
Yerevan, June 26, 2015 – A coalition of six leading human rights organizations is teaming up to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the UN Convention Against Torture in Yerevan. They are marking the occasion with a professional panel on “Ending Impunity and the Right of Rehabilitation for Torture Victims”, to be held on 26 June, from 10:00 – 14:00, in the Ballroom Hall of the Best Western Congress Hotel.
“Preventing torture is one of the most fundamental human rights and prerequisites for a democratic society,” said Mikayel Aramian, President of the Foundation Against the Violation of Law and one of the organizers of the conference. “We are marking this important day with others around the world by speaking out against the use of torture in our own country.”
The primary focus of the conference is to raise awareness about torture in Armenia and propose practical steps for bringing its perpetrators to justice. Particular reference will be made to the legality of the recent police crackdown on protesters against electricity price hikes on Baghramyan Avenue, as well as the rights of those detained and the need to provide them with support. Participants will present measures for investigating cases of torture and discuss the importance of rehabilitation and compensation for victims.
Representatives of relevant government bodies, diplomatic missions, legal experts, civil society organizations, and media outlets will also be on hand to take part in the conference.
The organizing coalition had the following to say about the issue and the upcoming commemoration: “Torture (the prohibition of ill-treatment requires absolute intolerance towards torture) consists of ill-treatment in various forms—whether it be extracting testimony from suspect’s through beatings in a police department, overpopulation in a penitentiary, depriving someone of food in a psychiatric institution, putting psychological pressure on an officer serving in the army, or any other treatment. The list is long but the solution is one: putting an end to torture.”
Every year, human rights defenders around the world commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June with events and actions aimed at ending the scourge of torture globally. As a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture since 1993, Armenia has committed itself to prohibit all manifestations of torture within its borders. Local NGO’s have consistently used the anniversary of the convention to spotlight the situation in the country and call for the convention’s proper implementation.
This year, the campaign is being organized by six organizations at the forefront of fighting torture in Armenia, including the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Civil Society Institute, Foundation Against the Violation of Law (FAVL), Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor, Open Society Foundations (OSF) – Armenia and Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO. The event itself was made possible by OSF – Armenia and FAVL.
All six organizations are expected to issue a joint-message on torture to the government during the conference. A special two-day seminar promoting the use of the Istanbul Protocol as a means to fight impunity for torture will also be held for specialists the following week.
For more information on the June 26 Conference and related activities, contact 010-58-28-19 or write to info@favl.am.
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