Press Releases

/2011-December-20/

Vilnius (4 December 2011)—In order to address the inadequate response of states and international organizations to ongoing human rights violations in Europe and Eurasia, 35 leading civil society organizations today launched Civic Solidarity, a new international platform for cooperation.

/2011-December-15/

Yesterday, the human rights activist and Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, Artur Sakunts, informed Zhoghovurd that HCAV received an alert that a citizen was invited to the Lori Region Prosecutor’s Office where he harmed himself.

/2011-December-13/

The presentation and discussion of the judicial cases initiated by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor in 2001-2011, will be held on December 14, 2011, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the joint meeting room of the Congress Hotel.

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Latest Publication

/2011-December-23/

The Right to receive Medical Help and the Means of Providing First Aid for Drug-Addicts

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Latest Report

/2011-December-13/

Monitoring Report on the Human rights Situation in the Eastern Partnership Countries

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Announcements

/2012-January-24/

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor just announced a contest for anyone interested in designing a logo for a new Human Rights Park.

/2012-January-13/

HCA Vanadzor regularly receives complaints from citizens regarding instances of violence, inhuman and degrading treatment used against them at the police stations.

/2011-December-14/

The authorities were not satisfied with simply declaring the Chairman of Helsinki Citzens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, Artur Sakunts, a ‘grant consumer.’

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/2010-June-28/

Лидеры России, США и Франции приняли заявление по Карабаху

Президенты РФ, США и Франции в рамках саммита «большой восьмерки» в Канаде приняли совместное заявление по н�

www.hcav.am/blog/

Human Rights in Lori Region

www.hrlori.am

Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan for 2011-2015

Strategic Plan for 2006-2010
adopted in 2005, amended in in 2007

Yellow Tulips

www.yellowtulips.hcav.am

Anticorruption center of Lori Region

‘It is Necessary to Pay More Attention to the Protection of Witnesses in Armenia.’ Artur Sakunts

Human Rights Protection Police Monitoring /2011-October-18/

It is necessary to pay more attention to the protection of witnesses in Armenia and to guarantee that their rights will be respected properly. Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, stated during the presentation of the report on the results of the study of witness protection.

‘This study is useful for identifying the existing problems in the field. Improving the witness protection system in Armenia will increase the witnesses’ trust towards the criminal justice system and thus will help prevent instances of violation of human rights and manifestations of corruption,’ noticed the activist.

Tatev Matinyan, Coordinator of the Legal Department of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, noted that their observations in Lori, Tavush, and Shirak Regions revealed that there are no separate rooms for interrogation in the investigative departments and the interrogation of witnesses is conducted in the offices of the investigators. ‘Physical and psychological violence is often used against witnesses to extort confession testimonies. Several witnesses applying to our office have indicated that they have been tortured during the interrogation. Another issue is that the investigative departments have no separate waiting rooms designated for witnesses. The hallways of the investigative departments are often crowded which is fertile ground for adjusting the testimonies noticed Tatev Matinyan.

Matinyan noted that confrontations are also conducted in the offices of the investigators; people are called for interrogation not with a summons but, at the most with a phone call. ‘The witness should be notified properly that he/she is asked for an interrogation. Also, witnesse because of their unawareness and in the absence of an advocate, are often forced to testify against their relatives or family members. The interrogation of minors is a separate topic of discussion. There are cases known where children are interrogated in the residence of the victim.’

Vladimir Chuntulov, Human Rights Officer of OSCE Yerevan, who was present at the discussion, said that a witness' ability to testify without intimidation or their ability to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies is vital for ensuring proper rule of law. ‘It is a key factor in solving crimes,’ he emphasized.

The representative of the General Investigative Department of the Police admitted the expressed opinions regarding the building conditions; meanwhile he added that improvements are being conducted in the investigative departments. ‘As to the witness protection, we definitely support the installment of the institute of public defender in the Law on Advocacy,’ he noticed.

Source: www.1in.am