Special Award of the Minister of Justice for addressing the prison education sector

On 13 December, participant of the journalist contest on the topic “A Public Glimpse into a Closed World: Human Rights Situation in Closed Institutions”, imprisoned journalist Armenak Davtyan was granted the Special Award of the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia for addressing the importance of prison education.

Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Suren Krmoyan attached importance to the fact that the author of the article, being in a closed penitentiary institution continues to write, create and study. "This means that he is re-socialising and is in the stage of becoming reintegrated into society. It means he sees the light at the end of the tunnel," the Deputy Minister noted, adding that attention was paid to the article also because this is a true story about another convict, who learnt the letters of the Armenian alphabet at the penitentiary institution.

Suren Krmoyan expressed gratitude to the organisers of the Project for holding the contest, for addressing issues related to closed institutions, as well as attached importance to the jointly developed guide for journalists aimed at covering human rights in closed institutions, stressing that the guide will serve as a basis for guaranteeing the rights of journalists working in closed institutions, as well as proper and professional coverage of activities in closed institutions.

Suren Krmoyan expressed the willingness of the Ministry of Justice to continue the work aimed at making penitentiary institutions more human-centric and transparent in the future as well.

During the event, the Ministry of Justice was granted a letter of gratitude for active support and effective cooperation within the framework of the project “A Public Glimpse into a Closed World: Human Rights Situation in Closed Institutions”.

The contest of journalistic materials "Human Rights Situation in Closed Institutions" was announced within the framework of the project "A Public Glimpse into a Closed World: Human Rights Situation in Closed Institutions” launched through co-funding of the European Union and Open Society Foundations — Armenia and jointly implemented by the "Public Journalism Club" NGO and Investigative Journalists NGO.