HEAD OF BULGARIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE KRASIMIR KANEV: IT IS EASIER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN ARMENIA TO VISIT JAIL THAN FOR THEIR COLLEAGUES FROM SWITZERLAND TO VISIT SWISS JAIL
arminfo
2007-11-12 12:20:00
ArmInfo. A seminar "Efficient Experience of Using the Optional
Protocol to the Convention against Torture" (OPCAT) was held today in
the "Marriott- Armenia" Yerevan Hotel. The seminar was organized by
joint efforts of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia and the Institute
of Open Society the international public organization.
As Special Representative of CoE Secretary General to Armenia
Bojana Urumova said, the optional Protocol to UN Convention against
torture envisages creation of a system of regular visits to jails
by independent experts for prevention of tortures and other kinds
of rough treatment. Coming into force of the optional Protocol to
UN Convention against tortures in June, 2006, establishes a new
international basis for strengthening and extension of the system of
visit to jails. Establishment or appointment of national preventive
mechanisms (NPM) in each member-state of the Convention is a key to
the new global system of visits to jails, B. Urumova said. Head of
the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee Krasimir Kanev, who also took part
in the seminar, emphasized that Armenia may serve a model even for
many western states as regards holding of a relevant monitoring and
openness of jails for representatives of public organizations. "It
is easier for the human rights activists in Armenia to visit a jail
than in Switzerland", K. Kanev said.
To note, Armenia joined the UN Convention against Tortures and ratified
and Optional Protocol to it in 2006.