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ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN ARMENIA
FIDH.org
Dec 5 2012
The administration of justice in Armenia has been of concern for many
years and remains a serious issue. Analysis founded on comprehensive
monitoring conducted by local human rights defenders indicates that
key issues like lack of judicial independence, use of torture and
ill-treatment, and poor conditions and overcrowding in penitentiaries
remain outstanding and urgent. In late 2010 and 2011 political
prisoners incarcerated after events in March 2008 were released.
Nevertheless, specific cases of politically motivated persecution
continue.
In 2010 the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) together
with its member organisation in Armenia, the Civil Society Institute
(CSI), and other Armenian NGOs, released a briefing paper outlining
serious concerns regarding the functioning of the justice system in
the Republic of Armenia. Concerns included violations of the right
to a fair trial encompassing also the abuse of pre-trial detention,
violations of the presumption of innocence and the rights of the
defense, and the use of illegally obtained testimony secured through
torture and ill treatment.
These concerns were also at the center of discussions during the
2010 International Forum on Justice organised by FIDH in Armenia,
as well as the recommendations transmitted directly to the Armenian
President and the Minister of Justice. Two years on, FIDH, CSI and
the Norwegian Helsinki Committee have conducted a thorough assessment
of recent developments in this field. Sadly, significant improvements
are still badly needed to shift the general pattern of human rights
breaches in this context. Moreover, the individual cases previously
highlighted by our organisations have still not been resolved.
The current briefing highlights these deficiencies in six key areas,
namely torture and ill treatment, political prisoners, investigations
into March 2008 abuses, judicial independence, juvenile justice and
the system for early conditional release. In doing so, it will provide
factual examples to illustrate concerns, before making a series of
recommendations to the Armenian authorities to remedy this situation.
Our organisations, the International Federation for Human Rights,
Civil Society Institute and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee express
our deep concern about the issues raised in this briefing. We call
upon the authorities to eliminate violations in the administration of
justice and ensure the establishment of an independent judiciary and
the rule of law. These steps are fundamental to the further democratic
development of Armenia.
http://www.fidh.org/Administration-of-Justice-in-12536
From: A. Papazian
FIDH.org
Dec 5 2012
The administration of justice in Armenia has been of concern for many
years and remains a serious issue. Analysis founded on comprehensive
monitoring conducted by local human rights defenders indicates that
key issues like lack of judicial independence, use of torture and
ill-treatment, and poor conditions and overcrowding in penitentiaries
remain outstanding and urgent. In late 2010 and 2011 political
prisoners incarcerated after events in March 2008 were released.
Nevertheless, specific cases of politically motivated persecution
continue.
In 2010 the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) together
with its member organisation in Armenia, the Civil Society Institute
(CSI), and other Armenian NGOs, released a briefing paper outlining
serious concerns regarding the functioning of the justice system in
the Republic of Armenia. Concerns included violations of the right
to a fair trial encompassing also the abuse of pre-trial detention,
violations of the presumption of innocence and the rights of the
defense, and the use of illegally obtained testimony secured through
torture and ill treatment.
These concerns were also at the center of discussions during the
2010 International Forum on Justice organised by FIDH in Armenia,
as well as the recommendations transmitted directly to the Armenian
President and the Minister of Justice. Two years on, FIDH, CSI and
the Norwegian Helsinki Committee have conducted a thorough assessment
of recent developments in this field. Sadly, significant improvements
are still badly needed to shift the general pattern of human rights
breaches in this context. Moreover, the individual cases previously
highlighted by our organisations have still not been resolved.
The current briefing highlights these deficiencies in six key areas,
namely torture and ill treatment, political prisoners, investigations
into March 2008 abuses, judicial independence, juvenile justice and
the system for early conditional release. In doing so, it will provide
factual examples to illustrate concerns, before making a series of
recommendations to the Armenian authorities to remedy this situation.
Our organisations, the International Federation for Human Rights,
Civil Society Institute and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee express
our deep concern about the issues raised in this briefing. We call
upon the authorities to eliminate violations in the administration of
justice and ensure the establishment of an independent judiciary and
the rule of law. These steps are fundamental to the further democratic
development of Armenia.
http://www.fidh.org/Administration-of-Justice-in-12536
From: A. Papazian