Armenian human rights activist raises problems of closed institutions
15:35 ¢ 04.05.14
All the closed institutions in Armenia ` orphanages, nursing homes,
mental hospitals ` have a number of system problems, human rights
activist Artur Sakunts told Tert.am.
The first problem is hygiene and sanitary conditions, medical care and
mistreatment.
`The inmates cannot raise their problems themselves. We have no
efficient mechanisms of lodging complaints. Even if they complain
about anything, they are mostly persuaded to withdraw their complaints
or repudiate,' Sakunts said.
`The government has responsibility for persons in terms of dignity,
protection of rights, medical care. However, the opposite is taking
place. We are witnessing degrading treatment,' the expert added.
Addressing individual cases, Sakunts said that they are evidence of
the system `ailing,' with no remedy available.
`That is, the necessary reforms supposed to improve the situation are
not implemented. Personnel retraining is an urgent task. We have
monitoring groups in penitentiaries, but the Ministry of Justice is
not properly considering the problems they are raising. Our
supervision system is not efficient,' Sakunts said.
The government has not yet the will to implement reforms, he added.
With respect to fatalities in Armenia's closed institutions, Sakunts
said that most cases are not even investigated.
`Even when investigation is launched in exceptional cases, we do not
consider the process of calling those guilty to account satisfactory.
We also need efficient investigation and judicial supervision,' he
said.
He also stressed numerous problems in comprehensive schools, which are
mostly concealed. Impunity in schools is actually the cause of such
way of thinking.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: Baghdasarian
15:35 ¢ 04.05.14
All the closed institutions in Armenia ` orphanages, nursing homes,
mental hospitals ` have a number of system problems, human rights
activist Artur Sakunts told Tert.am.
The first problem is hygiene and sanitary conditions, medical care and
mistreatment.
`The inmates cannot raise their problems themselves. We have no
efficient mechanisms of lodging complaints. Even if they complain
about anything, they are mostly persuaded to withdraw their complaints
or repudiate,' Sakunts said.
`The government has responsibility for persons in terms of dignity,
protection of rights, medical care. However, the opposite is taking
place. We are witnessing degrading treatment,' the expert added.
Addressing individual cases, Sakunts said that they are evidence of
the system `ailing,' with no remedy available.
`That is, the necessary reforms supposed to improve the situation are
not implemented. Personnel retraining is an urgent task. We have
monitoring groups in penitentiaries, but the Ministry of Justice is
not properly considering the problems they are raising. Our
supervision system is not efficient,' Sakunts said.
The government has not yet the will to implement reforms, he added.
With respect to fatalities in Armenia's closed institutions, Sakunts
said that most cases are not even investigated.
`Even when investigation is launched in exceptional cases, we do not
consider the process of calling those guilty to account satisfactory.
We also need efficient investigation and judicial supervision,' he
said.
He also stressed numerous problems in comprehensive schools, which are
mostly concealed. Impunity in schools is actually the cause of such
way of thinking.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: Baghdasarian