The advisory and expert councils operating under the Human Rights Defender are among the formats of cooperation between the Human Rights Defender and civil society organizations in Armenia. The International and Comparative Law Center is a member of the Human Rights Defender’s Advisory Council on the Prevention of Torture.
The Council’s purpose is to provide advisory support to the Human Rights Defender in exercising the powers arising from the Defender’s status as the National Preventive Mechanism. At its meetings, the Council discusses issues concerning the protection of the rights of persons held in places of deprivation of liberty, the Defender’s communications and reports, the need for legislative amendments, and relevant recommendations.
Another important area of the Council’s work is identifying and discussing systemic issues and matters of public interest concerning the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Council meets at least twice a year, and extraordinary meetings may also be convened when urgent issues arise in the field.
Participation in the Council’s work enables the International and Comparative Law Center to contribute its professional expertise to discussions on the prevention of torture and the protection of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty, the identification of problems, and the development of possible solutions.