On 25 March, based on the alarm sounded by Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor, representatives of the Staff of the Human Rights Defender visited the juvenile detainee who had made an attempt to harm himself at “Abovyan” Penitentiary.

The representatives were joined by representatives of the Group of Public Monitors Implementing Supervision over the Criminal-Executive Institutions and Bodies of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia.

Independent expert/psychologist of the National Preventive Mechanism of the Human Rights Defender held private talks with the juvenile having committed self-harm and his cellmates.

The representatives of the Human Rights Defender examined the conditions for keeping the juvenile, the medical documents on his condition and their compatibility with the prescribed requirements.

The results of the talks were discussed with the administration of the penitentiary institution.

The issue on protection of the juvenile’s rights are in the direct focus of the Human Rights Defender.