Violations at Goris Penitentiary

The National Preventive Mechanism of the Human Rights Defender's office, along with experts, has conducted a thorough analysis regarding the issues observed during a regular monitoring visit to the Ministry of Justice's Goris Penitentiary. The following main problems were recorded:

• The number of penitentiary staff is significantly disproportionate to the number of detainees.
• The conditions of detention are severely inadequate.
• There are issues with the organization of bathing facilities.
• Renovation and proper cleaning work are necessary.
• The toilets in the punishment cells are not separated by walls from living areas.
• There are no accommodations for detainees with mobility issues within the penitentiary.
• The quantitative and qualitative standards for food provided to detainees are not being maintained.
• There are problems related to the organization of medical assistance (for example, issues with maintaining medical confidentiality, improper organization of preliminary medical examinations, etc.).
• It is necessary to expand the mechanisms for encouraging detainees' connections with the outside world.
• Regular and comprehensive measures for the resocialization and reintegration of detainees into society are lacking.
• The working conditions for penitentiary staff are insufficient.

The Human Rights Defender has submitted this document, along with proposals aimed at resolving the identified issues, to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and the Penitentiary Service, expressing readiness to discuss the raised issues together and support their resolution. At the same time, the Defender emphasized the importance of improving the working conditions of the penitentiary staff from the perspective of the entire human rights protection system.