APT Secretary General Appeals to the President of the National Assembly of Armenia

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, posted on his Facebook page: "The financial independence has made the Human Rights Defender of Armenia a strong and reliable partner in the fight against torture. The Secretary General of the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) has sent an open letter to the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, regarding the independence of the Defender's activities as a national preventive mechanism, emphasizing that the guarantee of financial independence should be maintained in the constitutional law.

The open letter states that paragraph 5 of Article 8 of the current Constitutional Law on the Human Rights Defender is widely recognized as international best practice, which they propose for other countries to establish national preventive mechanisms. Barbara Bernath highlighted that it is precisely these guarantees of independence that have made the Human Rights Defender of Armenia such a strong and reliable partner in the fight against torture and ill-treatment. The letter also emphasizes the years of collaboration between the Association and the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, facilitated by this independence.

The Secretary General of the Association for the Prevention of Torture pointed out that despite many states facing budgetary constraints, particularly during the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is during these times that society's most vulnerable groups are at the greatest risk. Therefore, it is essential that institutions tasked with their protection not only receive support during such times but are also empowered.

In the open letter addressed to the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, it is emphasized that this issue is considered in a broader context, noting that restrictions on vehicles have already had negative impacts. Special attention is drawn to the fact that changes were made without proper consultation or discussion with the Human Rights Defender.

Taking into account international frameworks, including the Paris Principles, UN convention standards, and Armenia's international commitments, the Secretary General of the Association for the Prevention of Torture noted in the letter that paragraph 5 of Article 8 of the current Constitutional Law on the Human Rights Defender should be maintained as a best practice among National Human Rights Institutions and National Preventive Mechanisms. At the same time, it was suggested to ensure that any future discussions regarding legislative changes related to the financing of the Human Rights Defender are conducted with full consultation with the Human Rights Defender.

Note: The Association for the Prevention of Torture is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is an international non-governmental organization based on the establishment of a global system for the prevention of torture through the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The organization's activities cover over 90 countries worldwide. It is a key partner of the UN Committee against Torture (UN CAT) and the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) and plays a significant role in evaluating the work of human rights institutions during the accreditation phase. The full text of the letter is presented in both English and Armenian translations, carried out by the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.