Armenian Ombudswoman met with the Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

On September 27, 2022, The Human Rights Defender Ms. Kristinne Grigoryan held meetings with the Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) Mr. Régis Brillat.

Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity of the meeting, the Defender emphasized the importance of the work and cooperation with international partners.

During the meeting with the Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) Mr. Régis Brillat, Ms. Grigoryan presented the activities and the results of the monitoring of the Human Rights Defender’s Office, acting as the National Preventive Mechanism for the prevention of torture and ill-treatment. The Defender also presented the raised issues and the main violations that were registered, emphasizing the progress made as a result of cooperation with state bodies.

The Defender also referred to the systemic problems raised by the annual and ad hoc reports on the activity of the Human Rights Defender acting as the National Preventive Mechanism.

Presenting the ad hoc report published by the Human Rights Defender’s Office which was published on September 16, the Defender pointed out and presented with clear evidence the gross violations of the right to life, and the violations of the absolute prohibition of torture, and inhuman or degrading treatment by Azerbaijan, and the atrocities committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces against the bodies of killed Armenian servicemen, especially female servicepersons, both during the 44-day war in 2020, and the latest aggression on Armenia.

The Executive Secretary Mr. Régis Brillat presented the specifics of the Committee's mandate, and highlighted the importance of the monitoring conducted by the Defender’s Office on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee made to Armenia. The Executive Secretary informed the Defender about the planned monitoring visit to Armenia in 2023.