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Group of Public Monitors Implementing Supervision over the Criminal-Executive Institutions and Bodies of the Ministry of Justice of RA (hereafter referred to as Group) noted that the food for homosexuals continued to be served in separate containers during a visit to the Armavir Criminal-executive institution of the RA Ministry of Justice.

During the visit, 3 sections of food in disposable containers were recorded at the bottom of the food transporting chair.

Observations of the monitors assure that there is still discrimination and differentiated attitude against vulnerable groups in Criminal-executive institutions, which is manifested in different areas of life, even when serving food.

The Group has repeatedly referred to discrimination against homosexuals in annual and ongoing reports.

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The State Department reported that in 2018 the most significant human rights issues included: harsh and life threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; police violence against journalists; physical interference by security forces with freedom of assembly; restrictions on political participation; systemic government corruption; crimes involving violence or threats thereof targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI)
persons; inhuman and degrading treatment of persons with disabilities in institutions, including children; and worst forms of child labor. The US State Department also addresses issues related to prison and detention center conditions. 

You can read the report by the following link: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018, Armenia

On March 1-3, 2019, an outgoing training on conducting monitoring in closed institutions and overcoming professional burn-out was organized for public monitoring group conducting public oversight in the RA Ministry of Justice penitentiary institutions and bodies.

The training was organized within the framework of “Combating Torture and Ill-treatment in Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine” project, which is funded by the European Union and is implemented jointly by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor and Georgian Centre for the Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT).

The project was launched in February, 2018. The aim of the project is the prevention of torture in closed and semi-closed institutions, provision of support to torture survivors, advocacy and raising awareness of the subject.

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The representatives of the Public Oversight Group Conducting Oversight over the Penitentiary Institutions and Bodies under the RA Ministry of Justice had a meeting with the RA Minister of Justice Artak Zeynalyan on August 29 of 2018.

Hasmik Harutyunyan, the President of the Public Oversight Group, group members Hayk Tadevosyan, Robert Revazyan, Ara Gharagyozyan, Nare Hovhannisyan, Ruben Sargsyan, Zara Hovhannisyan, Suren Krmoyan, Deputy Minister of Justice, Artyom Mkhoyan, the Head of RA Ministry of Justice Penitentiary Service, as well as other representatives from the Ministry of Justice participated in the meeting.

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After the velvet revolution the ministry of justice sticks to the same position and keeps hindering the group’s activity the same way”, stated Nare Hovhannisyan, member of the public monitoring group in conducting public control in RA ministry of justice at 2018 July 25 Media Center discussion.

Nare Hovhannisyan, member of the public monitoring group of conducting public control in RA ministry of justice, while dwelling upon the problems facing the group, stresses that within 10 years of their activity their work was never hindered to the extend as it was during 2016 politically shaded events when the observers were not allowed to meet with the detainees.

This tendency is still in effect and covers other cases.

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