At its Human Rights meeting on 11-13 June, the Committee noted the significant developments and progress achieved through a series of general measures adopted by the authorities to reform the prison healthcare system, examined in the framework of the Ashot Harutyunyan group of cases.
In particular, the authorities implemented a set of reforms, including the establishment of a Centre for Penitentiary Medicine under the authority of the Ministry of Health, the adoption of a new Penitentiary Code and amendments to the sub-legislation regulating various important aspects of the organisation of treatment and healthcare services in the penitentiary, the introduction of regular trainings for medical staff, the improvement of primary health care in prisons, regular screenings, as well as the introduction of telemedicine and an increasing number of detainees which receive medical assistance in civil medical institutions.
While noting this important progress, the Committee also strongly encouraged the authorities to continue their efforts to improve the penitentiary healthcare system, including tackling the issues noted by the CPT in its preliminary observations following the visit to Armenia in September 2023.
As a result, the Committee of Ministers decided to end its supervision of the execution of the precedent case of Ashot Harutyunyan and to continue the examination of the remaining measures related to providing adequate healthcare in prisons in the framework of the Shirkhanyan group of cases.
Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights in Armenia
