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UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONSIDERS COMBINED SECOND AND THIRD REPORTS OF ARMENIA
armradio.am
18.07.2012 11:43
The UN Human Rights Committee has concluded its consideration of the
second and third periodic report of Armenia on its implementation of
the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.
Ashot Hovakimian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
introduced the report and said significant steps had been taken over
the past years to bring the legislation of Armenia fully in line with
its international obligations. This included the judicial reform
package and the adoption of the Council of Europe Action Plan with
priority actions in the areas of democracy, human rights and the rule
of law, to bring the country further in line with European standards.
Several laws were promulgated, including the Judicial Code, the
Electoral Code and the law on the Office of Public Prosecutor. The
draft law on equal rights of women and men had been submitted to the
Parliament, while the draft law against domestic violence had been
submitted to the Government's approval. One of the risks Armenia faced
was the violation of the right to self-determination; the will of the
people of Nagorno Karabakh to fully exercise that fundamental human
right was fully supported by the Government.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Hovakimian noted that Armenia was changing
and had achieved much since 1998. The right to self-determination
was a very important issue for Armenia and since it was the issue of
Nagorno Karabakh, the participation of its authorities in all hearings
and procedures should be considered.
Ashot Hovakimyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, said
significant steps had been taken in recent years to bring Armenia's
legislation fully in line with its international obligations. The
judicial reform package aimed to implement the principle of the
independence of the judiciary, adoption of enabling legislation,
institutional transformation and measures to prepare and train staff.
In July 2012 the Council of Europe launched the Action Plan for
Armenia which provided a package of priority actions in the areas
of democracy, human rights and the rule of law to bring the country
further in line with European standards. In 2007 the Judicial Code of
Armenia was adopted, which clarified the mandate of the Council of
Justice and stipulated a basic code of ethic for judges. A further
law regulating the Office of Public Prosecutor introduced a new
concept which eliminated centralization in the prosecution system,
prohibited case investigations by the Office of Public Prosecutor and
authorized the Office to solely oversee the lawfulness of inquests
and preliminary investigations. The draft Criminal Procedure Code was
currently under review. Elsewhere, the police force was undergoing
reform and a Human Rights Defender was recognized as an Independent
Preventive Mechanism as defined by the Convention against Torture.
The Electoral Code was amended in 2011 in order to advance electoral
processes: the first elections conducted under the Electoral Code were
the May 2012 parliamentary elections which were held in an open and
transparent manner. To strengthen the protection of women's rights
and gender equality and to improve the status of women in society
several legal and institutional measures had been implemented.
A draft law on the equal rights of women and men had been submitted
to the Parliament, while a draft law against domestic violence had
been submitted for the Government's approval. The National Action
Plan on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings was being implemented.
From: Baghdasarian
armradio.am
18.07.2012 11:43
The UN Human Rights Committee has concluded its consideration of the
second and third periodic report of Armenia on its implementation of
the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.
Ashot Hovakimian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
introduced the report and said significant steps had been taken over
the past years to bring the legislation of Armenia fully in line with
its international obligations. This included the judicial reform
package and the adoption of the Council of Europe Action Plan with
priority actions in the areas of democracy, human rights and the rule
of law, to bring the country further in line with European standards.
Several laws were promulgated, including the Judicial Code, the
Electoral Code and the law on the Office of Public Prosecutor. The
draft law on equal rights of women and men had been submitted to the
Parliament, while the draft law against domestic violence had been
submitted to the Government's approval. One of the risks Armenia faced
was the violation of the right to self-determination; the will of the
people of Nagorno Karabakh to fully exercise that fundamental human
right was fully supported by the Government.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Hovakimian noted that Armenia was changing
and had achieved much since 1998. The right to self-determination
was a very important issue for Armenia and since it was the issue of
Nagorno Karabakh, the participation of its authorities in all hearings
and procedures should be considered.
Ashot Hovakimyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, said
significant steps had been taken in recent years to bring Armenia's
legislation fully in line with its international obligations. The
judicial reform package aimed to implement the principle of the
independence of the judiciary, adoption of enabling legislation,
institutional transformation and measures to prepare and train staff.
In July 2012 the Council of Europe launched the Action Plan for
Armenia which provided a package of priority actions in the areas
of democracy, human rights and the rule of law to bring the country
further in line with European standards. In 2007 the Judicial Code of
Armenia was adopted, which clarified the mandate of the Council of
Justice and stipulated a basic code of ethic for judges. A further
law regulating the Office of Public Prosecutor introduced a new
concept which eliminated centralization in the prosecution system,
prohibited case investigations by the Office of Public Prosecutor and
authorized the Office to solely oversee the lawfulness of inquests
and preliminary investigations. The draft Criminal Procedure Code was
currently under review. Elsewhere, the police force was undergoing
reform and a Human Rights Defender was recognized as an Independent
Preventive Mechanism as defined by the Convention against Torture.
The Electoral Code was amended in 2011 in order to advance electoral
processes: the first elections conducted under the Electoral Code were
the May 2012 parliamentary elections which were held in an open and
transparent manner. To strengthen the protection of women's rights
and gender equality and to improve the status of women in society
several legal and institutional measures had been implemented.
A draft law on the equal rights of women and men had been submitted
to the Parliament, while a draft law against domestic violence had
been submitted for the Government's approval. The National Action
Plan on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings was being implemented.
From: Baghdasarian