Government must take measures to prevent torture - Anahit Manasyan

ArmInfo.The Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan's message on the International Day in  Support of Victims of Torture.

"June 26 marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture  declared by the United Nations.

As a National Prevention Mechanism, the activities of the Human  Rights Defender are aimed at preventing torture and other forms of  ill-treatment in our country.

In the annual and ad hoc reports, the Defender has always emphasized  the lack of compensation, and other support mechanisms for  non-material damage caused by ill-treatment. This is a priority issue  that should be properly addressed by the state.

It is also very important to provide psychological, medical and  social-rehabilitation services to torture survivors and their family  members.

The Defender's Office continues to receive complaints and  alarming-calls regarding the alleged cases of torture in penitentiary  institutions, the Police, and investigative bodies.

This circumstance is very concerning. The state should take clear  steps to prevent torture cases. Moreover, it is necessary to respond  to those cases quickly and adequately, to be consistent from the  viewpoint of ensuring an effective investigation and bringing the  culprits to justice. In that regard, there are various problems in  our state that need to be overcome as soon as possible.

I am sure that we should unite our efforts with our daily work to  create such an environment in Armenia where torture and other forms  of ill-treatment will be excluded.

I would like to make a special reference to the policy adopted by the  Azerbaijani authorities, including the torture and inhumane treatment  of Armenian Prisoners of War and civilian captives held in  Azerbaijan.  This circumstance is unacceptable from the viewpoint of  all the values adopted by the modern civilized world, and should be  properly addressed by the international community".