Legal Assistance to Drug Users.

On November 14, 2008, a live TV broadcast was held within the framework of the project ”Legal Assistance to Drug Users” in ”Ankyun +3” TV in Alaverdi. Arthur Sakunts, the coordinator of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor, was the guest of the programme.

”Taking into account the fact of isolation of this target group, the negative attitude of society towards them, as well as their vulnerability in the relationship with law enforcement bodies, we’ve decided to undertake the protection of drug users’ rights”,- explained Arthur Sakunts.
  At the same time Sakunts informed that all the methods used to protect drug users' rights in Lori region, would be possible to implement in the whole country. Arthur Sakunts mentioned the latest changes in the Criminal Code, according to which the use of drugs has been decriminalized and administrative liability has been set. He also stated that an institute of Public Attorney exits providing socially insecure people with free of charge court defence, whenever a criminal case is brought against them.

During the TV broadcast the televiewers had the opportunity to get answers to their problems. In particular they were interested in the existence of programmes at schools for fighting against drugs.
Arthur Sakunts described that there were no special programmes at schools, though it was possible to organize discussions on the negative impact of drugs at public schools.
  The second question of the televiwers concerned those using psychotropic drugs. It sometimes happens that doctors proscribe a psychotropic drug to the citizen, who has some kind of health problem. After recovering the citizens become addicted to that drug, and they don’t want anyone to know about it. What to do and how to fight it? Is it possible to completely refuse from such drugs?
  Arthur Sakunts finds that in such cases citizens should turn to relevant specialists. These problems should be observed as health problems and not criminal and should not be called to criminal liability.
  The main bodies fighting against drug addiction and distribution are law enforcement bodies. We should also do our best to prevent illegal distribution of drugs, as well as do so that the users are not subjected to criminal liability.
  Because of the isolation of the target group the contact with them becomes very difficult. It makes the effective protection of their rights difficult. So, Arthur Sakunts called the televiwers to visit either HCA Vanadzor office or its representation in Alaverdi in case of problems. He informed about possibility of meetings in private, where the drug users would prefer.
  The live broadcast was held within the framework of the project “Legal Assistance to drug Users” that was launched by HCA Vanadzor on October 1, 2008. It is the follow up of the pilot project directed towards the protection of the rights of drug users. This project covers not only Vanadzor, but also Alaverdi and Stepanavan towns of Lori region. The goal of the project is to provide drug users with legal assistance.
  Within the framework of the project the drug users will be provided with free legal consultation in Vanadzor, Stepanavan and Alaverdi, we will undertake their court protection.
  It is planned to carry out monitoring of lawsuits, which aims at finding out to what extent the protection of drug users' rights is provided during the application of the legislation, including during the lawsuits.
  A report will be made on the results of lawsuit monitoring, which will present the organization’s observations and proposals for making relevant changes in the legislation or in the practice of its implementation.