In the 644-page World Report 2015, its 25th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries. Report on Armenia reads: “Armenia’s human rights record remained uneven in 2014. Authorities continued to interfere with peaceful protests. Torture and ill-treatment in custody remained a problem, and investigations are ineffective, even when opened. Journalists continued to face pressure and violence. Although changes to alternative service to compulsory military service garnered praise, serious abuses in the army persist. Local groups documented forced psychiatric hospitalization. Violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity are serious problems. The government has yet to lift unnecessary restrictions on access to pain medications for people with terminal illnesses.

 

 

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The European Convention on Human Rights passed another milestone in 2013, marking sixty years since it took effect. Overall, the number of applications pending before the Court decreased by approximately 28,000 bringing the total at the end of the year 2013 to just under the 100,000 mark. The improvement is all the more striking when regard is had to the situation in 2011, when the number of pending applications peaked at just over 160,000. In the space of two years, and with no fall-off in the number of new applications, the Court’s docket has been cut by more than a third. Over the course of the year, the number of cases pending for more than three years was reduced by 48% to less than 25,000. D

 

European Court Annual_report_2013_ENG

Ill-treatment in police custody persists. The government has yet to offer conscientious objectors a genuine civilian alternative to military service. The authorities did not adequately investigate a troubling number of noncombat deaths in the military. They also failed to investigate violent attacks against peaceful protesters by unidentified assailants.

Broadcast media lacks pluralism and there were several instances of violence and harassment against journalists and media workers during the year. Violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity by both state and non-state actors are serious problems. Bureaucratic restrictions prevent people with terminal illnesses from accessing strong pain medications.

Presidential and Municipal Elections

International observers, led by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), concluded that the February presidential election “was generally well-administered” but noted “some serious violations” of OSCE and Council of Europe standards, such as pressure on voters. The OSCE also noted other breaches, including public administration bias in favor of incumbents, misuse of administrative resources, and interference by the incumbent’s proxies. Local observers reported the presence of unauthorized persons in polling stations, numerous attempts to pressure observers and journalists by political parties and election commission members, and widespread ballot stuffing for the incumbent candidate.

 

 

Human rights watch World report 2014_web_0

The year 2012 was an eventful and productive one for the Court, as reflected in the pages of this Annual Report. It was a year of transition in the leadership of the institution, and of significant change on the bench too. It was a year of two presidencies: that of Sir Nicolas Bratza, who presided the Court until his retirement on 31 October; and that of Mr Dean Spielmann, who was elected by the Plenary Court on 10 September and commenced his term on 1 November. The year was also marked by the retirement of one of the Court’s Vice-Presidents, Françoise Tulkens. The other changes among the Court’s officeholders and its composition as at the end of the year are described in Chapters II and III.

 

European COurt Annual_report_2012_ENG