ARMENIA IS AHEAD OF SWITZERLAND

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 12 2007

On November 12 an international conference on the effective practice
of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture opened
in Armenia. In addressing the conference the president of Helsinki
Committee of Bulgaria Krasimir Kanev said Armenia is considerably
ahead of other European countries, including Switzerland, in terms of
creating national mechanisms for the prevention of torture, namely
enabling the activities of monitoring missions and transparency of
penitentiaries. Kanev says in this context the experience of Armenia
may serve as a model for the other European countries, News Armenia
reports.

Currently there are groups of NGOs in Armenia which regularly monitor
correctional institutions and the state of prisoners. Another group
monitors the army.