24/7 translation service for foreign convicts - communication problem has been resolved

For years, contact between officers of penitentiary institutions and persons held in confinement and having no command of Armenian has been a systemic problem due to the fact that officers have not had command of the necessary languages, and there were no translation services that could help to ensure effective communication with persons held in confinement. To increase the possibility of communication, an attempt was made to ensure involvement of other persons held in confinement or employees having command of the particular language. As a result, communication at a proper and professional level was not ensured, it affected persons held in confinement, effective communication with them was not maximally ensured, and they were less involved in re-socialisation activities.

This year, for the first time, a tender has been announced for the purpose of acquiring the services of a translator and sign language interpreter for detained persons and convicts at the expense of the state funds of the Republic of Armenia. As a result of the tender, a successful bidder was declared, and a contract was concluded with the particular bidder. Within the scope of the contract, oral and written translation of at least 32 languages will be carried out, including sign language interpretation; moreover, non-complex, medium-complexity, medium-complexity professional, complicated, complicated professional written and oral translations will be carried out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (also on weekends and holidays, without exception) throughout the territory of the Republic of Armenia, in all penitentiary institutions of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia.

As a result of the initiative, from now on, the existing complications of communication between persons who are held in confinement and do not have command of Armenian and the officers of a penitentiary institution will be resolved, and a more favourable environment will be created for persons to exercise their rights and perform their duties properly.