Research and Analysis

Within the framework of the monitoring, Peace Dialogue NGO focused specifically on monitoring the implementation of human rights protection activities in the Armed Forces, in particular, the actions concerning the right to life in the armed forces, the prohibition of torture, the right to a fair trial, as well as activities related to women’s rights in the context of the equality and prohibition of discrimination. This report is based on the results of the monitoring of the implementation of defense sector-related actions in the period from January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

This report is devoted to the monitoring of the implementation of the defense sector-related actions in the period from January 1 to December 31, 2020.

The current study was conducted by Peace Dialogue NGO in order to identify the needs of those displaced as a result of a large-scale armed attack on Nagorno-Karabakh on 27 September, 2020. It aims at finding out the issues related to human rights (including the right to life, property, health, education), as well as legal, gender and peace-building spheres that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh faced during and after the evacuation to their temporary or permanent residence.

The current report presents violations of international humanitarian law which also lead to war crimes under international law committed by Azerbaijani military forces in the course of their military operation against Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and Armenia.

> Targeting Civilian Objects and Use of Munitions Forbidden under International Law.
> Violence to life and person, murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, torture and passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment.

Experience shows that criminal cases involving torture only rarely reach the courts. This is also due to the difficulty (or nearly impossibility) of providing proof. In many cases, due to mistrust of judiciary institutions, citizens prefer to remain silent about torture cases. The accused believe that raising such issues may worsen their situation. Moreover, vicious practices show that they are the ones who have to prove that they have been subjected to torture. It is sufficient to note that no official in Armenia has yet been held responsible for ill-treatment and torture of another person: even in cases where torture and ill-treatment was recognized by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

On the following pages you will find the final report on activities implemented by the RA Ministry of Defense within the framework of its 2017-2019 Action Plan (hereinafter Action Plan) derived from the National Strategy for Human Rights Protection. The report has been compiled by the Monitoring Group created as part of Peace Dialogue NGO’s (PD’s) initiative: “Proactive Civil Society Participation in the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in the Armenian Armed Forces”.