You are cordially invited to side event at OSCE SHDM
Ill-Treatment and Torture in Armenia’s closed institutions
MODERATED BY
Ms. Maria Aghajanyan
Civil Society/Law Programs Senior Program Coordinator at Open Society Foundations–Armenia
Ms. Aghajanyan has been working closely with partner organisations focusing on rights and freedoms, particularly in closed and semi-closed institutions, and rule of law issues in Armenia for over seven years. In this capacity, she coordinates OSF–Armenia’s and its partners’ international advocacy efforts with the EU and UN mechanisms. The OSF–Armenia works to strengthen the rule of law, respect for human rights with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, and a diversity of opinions, and to empower the civil society that keeps government accountable.
PANELISTS:
Mr. Artur Sakunts
Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor Office
Mr. Sakunts has been involved in human rights activism since 1992. HCA Vanadzor provides legal consulting and assistance, conducts monitoring of closed and semi-closed institutions including in the armed forces and psychiatric institutions, and advocates for the improvement of policy and practice in these areas. He is an ardent advocate for demilitarization as a guarantee to peace and security in the region and for the prevention of human rights violations in the armed forces. Since 2011 he has been regularly representing victims and their families on army cases in the courts.
In 2012 Mr. Artur Sakunts received Freedom Defender Award from the US Embassy in Armenia, Counterpart International-Armenia, UK Embassy in Armenia, EU Armenia, and OSCE Armenia.
He has been a member of the Group of Public Observers Conducting Public Monitoring of Penitentiary Institutions and Bodies of the RA Ministry of Justice since 2004, where he is currently an expert and served as its president from 2011-2013.
Mr. Avetik Ishkhanyan
Chairperson of Helsinki Committee of Armenia
Mr. Ishkhanyan is involved in democratization in Armenia since its independence in 1991. Since its founding in 1995, HCA has focused on monitoring the human rights situation with a special focus on closed and semi-closed institutions, including penitentiaries, orphanages, the army and hospitals, where conscientious objectors are in alternative service.
Mr. Avetik Ishkhanyan is the author of a series of reports covering areas such as life in penal institutions, treatment of detained persons, freedom of religion, and freedom of peaceful assemblies in Armenia.
He was a member of the Group of Public Observers Conducting Public Monitoring of Penitentiary Institutions and Bodies of the RA Ministry of Justice since its foundation in 2004 until 2010. Currently he is an expert of the same group. Since 2003 he has been actively engaged in providing support to prisoners.
For further information on the event convening organisations:
please visit: www.armhels.com; osf.am; hcav.am.