[prisoner-rights] Public monitoring of pre-trial detention centres in Armenia

YEREVAN, 7 August 2006 -- Human rights non-governmental organizations
today began monitoring the conditions in pre-trial detention centres as
part of a project supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the OSCE
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The project will initially run for three months. It aims to gather
information about human rights standards in the detention centres so that
suggestions on how to improve the situation and increase government
accountability can be made. A monitoring report will be presented to the
Armenian police that is in charge of pre-trial detention centres.

"The establishment of a monitoring mechanism for pre-trial detention
facilities in Armenia is a remarkable step forward to establish full
public monitoring for all places of detention in the country," said Lars
Gerold, an ODIHR Rule of Law expert.

In recent years the OSCE Office and the ODIHR have supported the creation
and work of the Armenian Prison Monitoring Board, which observers the
conditions within Armenian pre-trial detention centres. The ODIHR provided
funding for the institutional set up of the board for at least three
months and assisted with training for the members of the board.

The OSCE has invited Kassimir Khanev, Chairman of the Helsinki Committee
of Bulgaria, to provide advice and share experiences with the Armenian
monitors.

"Public oversight over detention centres provides an opportunity to make
sure that the rights of detainees are adequately protected," he said.

Mr. Khanev will participate in several monitoring visits together with his
Armenian colleagues. Earlier this year, the OSCE provided special training
for the monitors.

OSCE Press release