Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Detention in Armenia

Building upon the results achieved from the implementation of the Project “Enhancing healthcare and human rights protection in prisons in Armenia”, the Project “Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Detention” financed by Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023 – 2026 assists the Armenian authorities to further enhance penitentiary reform and prison health care, and the protection of the human rights of persons deprived of liberty. The Council of Europe is providing support at policy and operational levels assisting authorities to accomplish penitentiary reform goals and trigger changes in practices throughout the prison system especially after the adoption of the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedural Code as well as Penitentiary Code in June 2022.
The Project is implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Prison Medicine Centre, as well as other stakeholders including the civil society organisations.
The Project focuses on following priority areas:

Further enhancing the institutional capacity of the Prison Medicine Centre in order to provide quality health care in the penitentiary system;
Further consolidating the knowledge and skills of medical and non-medical staff on different topics on provision of health care;
Strengthening the capacities of prison staff to apply tools and rehabilitation programmes for persons deprived of liberty;
Harmonizing the regulatory framework on human rights with the new Penitentiary Code.

The key Conventions for this Project are the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), as well as the findings and the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
The duration of the Project is set at 24 months, and it is expected to be completed by 31 December 2024, with an overall budget of 550 000 Euros.

Project documentation

Useful information

project news

Back Charting a path to human-centred and technology-driven prison healthcare system in Armenia: workshop on telemedicine and electronic medical files

@ Council of Europe

On 10 November 2023 a workshop on the use of telemedicine and electronic medical files in the prison healthcare system in Yerevan brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, Prison Medicine Centre, Human Rights Defender’s Office, Office of the Representative on international legal matters. The main objective of the workshop was to present and discuss the necessary steps for practical implementation of telemedicine in the prison healthcare system, including the main challenges, technical settings, staff capacity, and other related issues. The event was another step towards the human-centred and technology-driven prison health care system supported by the Council of Europe.

The participants discussed a detailed plan for implementing telemedicine in prison healthcare that includes steps to address technical issues and prepare staff for these changes. The insights from the discussion will help the implementation of telemedicine and thus the transition to a more advanced and efficient healthcare system in prisons, with the Council of Europe's targeted support.

The participants also received recommendations on the use of electronic medical records in prison healthcare system including the necessary legal and technical frameworks. The introduction of electronic medical records aims at making the patients’ data in prisons more accessible.

The workshop has also highlighted the importance of cooperation between different actors. The success of the technological improvements will depend on teamwork of healthcare professionals, prison staff, and government authorities. Their commitment and multidisciplinary approach are indispensable for creating a more efficient healthcare system in prisons, as acknowledged by the participants.

This event is part of the Council of Europe’s support within the framework of the Project “Strengthening the protection of the rights of persons in detention” that assists the national authorities to further enhance penitentiary reform, prison health care and the protection of human rights of persons deprived of liberty. The Project is financed within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Armenia 13 November 2023