Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

On December 13, the award ceremony of A public glimpse into a closed world: “The situation of human rights in closed institutions” and “The state of the right to be free from ill-treatment”  journalistic contests  took place, during which the winners were announced.

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

The contest of journalistic materials on the state of the enjoyment of the absolute right to be free from torture and other cruel inhuman treatment or punishment was announced within the framework of ‘Combatting torture and ill-treatment in Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine’ project, which is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor and The Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT).

During the ceremony, which took place in the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)  building, Public Journalism Club NGO president Seda Muradyan delivered a welcoming speech noting that when the project was launched, revolution had not yet taken place in Armenia, there were serious challenges, since there had been many occasions on which to be sure that human rights value and inculcation of respect towards it was a serious problem, there was no political will to respect and protect human rights, especially in the closed world.

According to Seda Muradyan, after the well-known political events, a period of opportunities has started. There are great expectations from the country’s new leaders, particularly in the direction of achieving positive changes in human rights protection sphere.

“I expect that our and any other initiative aimed at the protection of human rights will have chances of positive change impact on the human rights sphere”.

During the opening event, Edik Baghdasaryan, “Hetq” online newspaper chief editor, underscored that in fact, the situation has not changed and special institutions are not open to journalists.

“It was at least a few months ago when the director of one of the psychiatric hospitals told us that we could only shoot one room. In fact, those institutions are still closed. For years on end, we have been trying to enter the hospital for the convicted, but we have not managed to do it so far,” Edik Baghdasaryan added.

Artur Sakunts, chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor, emphasized, “This event is the main message to the political authorities that we expect that the state of the rights of those held in confinement should be publicly disclosed, negative attitudes towards persons deprived of their liberty may also be overcome by coverage of their issues, that is, these people should not be double persecuted by means of discriminatory negative attitude”.

EU Ambassador to Armenia Piotr Antoni Świtalski was present at the award ceremony. He noted, “Empowerment of independent journalism is very important for the democratic development of Armenia. EU supports these award ceremonies not with the purpose of encouraging the nominated organizations, individuals or stories, but rather to encourage a well-informed society, which can take thoughtful decisions”. Ambassador Świtalski reaffirmed the support of EU to free and independent journalism in Armenia.   

A number of representatives from state and international institutions, prominent human rights defender experts were invited to the ceremony. They participated in question-answer format thematic discussions on the issues of human rights.

Arman Tatoyan, the RA Human Rights Defender, indicated that it is important that a journalist’s work be perceived as a support and not an obstacle, “This is such a sphere, where everyone’s conscientious work is important. The smaller the coverage of the sphere is, the more problems there are”.

More than a hundred applications were submitted to the contest.

The professional jury observed and made a decision on the winning materials at the jury session on December 3.

During the award ceremony, winners were revealed

1. Within the framework of “The situation of human rights in closed institutions” journalistic contest, “Isolated inside ourselves” material authored by Arman Suleymanyan was named winner in the best human story nomination.
2. In ''The state of the right to be free from ill-treatment'' journalistic contest, Shake Ghazaryan's ''PostFactum-Aperture xenophobia'' material, which covered the state of the enjoyment of the absolute right to be free from ill-treatment, was named winner in the best TV reportage nomination.  
3. Encouraging prize for covering the problems of life-sentenced prisoners was given to Armenuhi Vardanyan ‘s ''We are life-sentenced, so what? Can't we go to church and light a candle to our God...?'' material that raised the issues of life-sentenced persons. 
4. Within the framework of “The state of the right to be free from ill-treatment” journalistic contest, Mher Yenokyan’s “Welcome to prison” article on the state of the enjoyment of the absolute right to be free from ill-treatment was awarded in the best human story nomination. 
5. Within the framework of “The state of the right to be free from ill-treatment” journalistic contest, Yuri Sargsyan and Mher Yenokyan were awarded a special prize for raising and consistent coverage of universal issues.
6. Within the framework of “The situation of human rights in closed institutions” journalistic contest, encouraging prizes were given to Armenak Davtyan for journalistic works and Anastasia Davtyan for the issues raised.
7. Within the framework of “The situation of human rights in closed institutions” journalistic contest, Lusine Gharibyan's ''Patients' dreams and the yet miscollected Rubik's Cube''  material was named winner in the best online material nomination. 
8. Within the framework of “The situation of human rights in closed institutions” journalistic contest, Susanna Badalyan was awarded a special prize for ''Persons with mental health problems are not protected'' material, which is as follows․
9. Within the framework of ''The situation of human rights in closed institutions'' journalistic contest, Mariam Avetisyan was awarded an encouraging prize for ''Children with hearing impairments face great problems in ''the world of those who can hear'', Armenia lacks appropriate conditions'' material.
10. Within the framework of ''The situation of human rights in closed institutions'' journalistic contest, Amalya Papyan’s “A special school or the victims of indifference” material was named winner in the best TV report nomination. 
11. Within the frameworks of the two contest projects, Public Journalism Club and HCA Vanadzor handed a special prize to forrights.am for consistently raising and covering issues of the sphere.

Special and encouraging prizes were given by state structures and various international organizations.

Lusine Gharibyan received a special prize by the Human Rights Defender for her “The only school teaching by Braille system has a great lack of textbooks” material.

Armenak Davtyan received a special prize by the Ministry of Justice for his material published in Aravot newspaper.

Lusine Gharibyan’s “Patients' dreams and the yet miscollected Rubik's Cube” material received a special prize by the Ministry of Health.

Nelli Shishmanyan’s “A family outside the family” material received a special prize by Save the Children for covering issues pertaining to children’s rights. 

The following persons received special prizes by DVV International Armenia

1. Mher Enokyan for telling about his experience of getting an education in prison conditions and for versatile coverage in hetq.am website.
2. Rafik Yengibaryan for versatile coverage of issues of education in prison in his “The odyssey of a prisoner getting education” article.

The following persons received Encouraging prizes by DVV International

1. Armenak Davtyan for versatile coverage of the issue of education in prison in his “A place of imprisonment as an educational institution - the story of a young boy who stole food to relieve the burden of a fourteen-member family” article. The article is as follows  
2. Anastasia Davtyan for boldly telling about her experience of getting an education in prison conditions and trying to break public stereotypes pertaining to this matter.

You can watch the video here.

Photos are available here