As we have already informed, the monitoring of the National Human Rights Protection Strategy and its implementation action plan is underway under the “Promotion of Straight Democracy for Strengthening Human Rights in Armenia” program, within the framework of which the first results of the monitoring have already been received. The program aims to provide the public with summary information on the monitoring results, addressing specific areas of the Action Plan each week. This week we will present to the public the activities carried out by the RA Ministries of Labor, Social Affairs, Territorial Administration and Infrastructure within the framework of the action plan, which mainly refer to the right to life, equality, the prohibition of torture, and the prohibition of discrimination, the right to work, social security, and the rights of the child.
According to the information provided by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, all the staff of the Domestic Violence Victims Support Centers have received training in accordance with international standards, and in the first half of 2020, about 463 people were assisted by NGOs providing services of the Domestic Violence Victims Support Centers. Regular activities in 2020-2022 include training of staff of the child care institutions on the topics of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment (target indicator: 50% of employees), training of social workers on topics of equality, and non-discrimination (target indicator: 50% social workers). The trainings related to the first part have not been implemented yet; the process of organizing trainings is still in progress. Related to the second part, 60% of the social workers of one institution providing child care and protection have been trained in 2020. According to the information provided, trainings for social workers of the remaining institutions will be organized in the near future.
Regular actions include child rights awareness campaigns, in the framework of which posters on child rights were posted in 10 out of 12 child care institutions (daytime and round the clock) (target indicator: 12 institutions). Public awareness campaigns on children’s rights were also implemented in two main areas: service development and prevention programs.
Within the framework of the National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights and the action plan for its implementation by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, it is planned to carry out one action aimed at preventing torture during the first half of 2020. In the scope of this action it is planned to increase the number of rooms for asylum seekers (target indicator: 100 rooms). According to the information provided by the ministry, this indicator has not changed yet, the design of the new shelter is still in progress.
More detailed monitoring results in the above as well as other areas will be presented in the monitoring report, which will be prepared after the completion of the research field work. A package of recommendations aimed at improving the implementation of the National Strategy for the protection of human rights in the country as a whole will be presented the competent authorities as well.
This publication has been produced in the scope of the “Promoting Direct Democracy for Strengthening Human Rights in Armenia” project implemented in the framework of the “Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility” project funded by the European Union
The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the fellow for the “Promoting Direct Democracy for Strengthening of Human Rights in Armenia” project and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.
