YEREVAN. - The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, in cooperation with nine non-governmental organizations, is reopening his rapid response service.

As of Tuesday, and with the support of the Human Rights Defender’s staff, the 24-hour 116 Hotline  will be operating  for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of rapid response and all-day duty implementation. The Hotline, managed by the staff, will also operate on work days, memorial days, and holidays.  Moreover, all incoming Hotline calls from all regions of Armenia are free of charge, Information and Public Relations Department of Human Rights Defender’s Office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Rapid response is put into action in all cases, when a person has been unsubstantially apprehended by law enforcement authorities (Police, Prosecutor’s Office, Special Investigation Service, National Security Service) where he/she has been subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, or there is a threat of being treated in this way; the investigating body (investigation and preliminary investigation) declines a person’s legal motions, namely to have a defender, translator, forensic medical expert consultation, and first aid supply; a prisoner has been subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment (beating, torture, etc.) in a penitentiary institution; in cases of torture (already happened or ongoing) in military units; when a person with serious health problems is recalled into military service; when Compulsory Enforcement Service  executes its procedures illegally, etc.

In the indicated cases, rapid response will be as follows:

• Provision of necessary legal advice;

• Visit to the corresponding place/institution, if necessary; and

• In some cases, transmission of information to a proper body, or information adjustment.

Rapid response will be implemented by human, technical, and material resources of the Human Rights Defender’s Institution and NGOs.