MECHANISMS OF PROTECTING CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily
13/10/2006

The ministers of justice of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states
will meet in Yerevan on 12 and 13 October to find new ways of promoting
and developing support and assistance to victims, facilitating their
access to justice and ensuring that victims of crime do not also
become victims of administrative procedures and bureaucracy. In a
joint press conference with CE Director General of Legal Affairs,
Guy de Vel, two days ago, Armenian justice minister Davit Harutyunian
presented details and expectations from the conference.

Armenia’s expectations from the two-day "Victims: Place, Rights and
Assistance" conference are connected with exchange of experience,
Mr. Harutyunian said. "We should not repeat the others’ mistakes,"
the minister said.

Mr. Guy de Vel informed that the conference will focus on the victims
of family violence and will try to create mechanisms of financial
assistance. Though he did not know numbers of family violence victims
in our country CE Director General of Legal Affairs was sure that
prevention is important.

"If different crimes can be understood in 21st century as pursuing for
financial ends, then family violence today is unacceptable," Davit
Harutyunian said. Our country is interested in Europe’s experience
in intermediary reconciliation process.