CoE JUSTICE MINISTERS DELIBERATE ON SUPPORT TO VICTIMS

Panorama.am
12:35 12/10/06

The 27th conference on Council of Europe (CoE) Justice Ministers
kicked off in Yerevan today. The conference is titled: "Victims:
status, rights and assistance."

CoE General Director on Legal Issues Guy de Vel said this topic is
selected because the number of victims in the world is growing. Human
trafficking, terrorism, violence against women and children are
widespread in the world and not only in Europe, the speakers
mentioned. The general director as well ass Anna Lomperova, CoE
representative, presented the legal documents that CoE has adopted
to face the challenges.

They also said a lot more has to be done.

They said there are member-states that have not ratified these
documents. Taking the chance, seven countries, including Armenia,
signed conventions on victims’ rights. Armenian Justice Minister
David Harutunyan and Guy de Vel signed a document on fight against
xenophobia through computer.

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan greeted the guests,
welcoming the discussion on victims’ rights.

Margaryan said Armenia has developed normative acts, which will
support judicial reforms and is ready to take up new commitments.

Armen Rustamyan, chairman of interim committee on legal issues at
the Armenian parliament, said the Armenian parliament has adopted a
number of laws on victims. Later he told reporters, "Basically our laws
comply with the European standard. We have problems at the second –
implementation phase. Here the exchange of experience is valuable."

Azerbaijan and Turkey participate on the level of department heads at
the conference. Azerbaijan came with two delegates and Turkey with one.

Representatives from Andorra, Island, Sweden, Liechtenstein and Cyprus
were not present.