Presentation of new handbook for law enforcement officials

Presentation of new handbook for law enforcement officials

On 28th of October, the presentation of new handbook for law enforcement officials “The peculiarities of participation in criminal proceedings of juvenile victims of trafficking or exploitation (pre-trial proceeding)” took place in Yerevan Elit Plaza Hotel.

The handbook published by “Hope and Help” NGO is intended for law enforcement officials, such as investigators, police officers, psychologists involved in criminal proceedings, employees of organizations for the protection of children’s rights.

The handbook explains particular features of pre-trial proceedings in criminal proceedings with involvement of minor trafficking victims.

The guests were welcomed by “Hope and Help” NGO’s president Enoq Shatvoryan, who introduced handbook’s authors – Deputy Chairman of RA Investigative Committee, Doctor of Law, Docent Artur Ghambaryan and OSCE Yerevan’s Office for Combating Trafficking Senior Counsel, Candidate of Law Siences, Docent, Member of RA Chamber of Advocates, lawyer David Tumasyan.

E. Shatvoryan underlined in his opening speech that the handbook is created as a guide for those law enforcement officials who work with victim children during the pre-trial proceedings. According to Shatvoryan’s words the right approach in work with victim children during the investigation is often ignored. Society doesn’t pay proper attention to this issue and the handbook aims to change the attitude and the course of activities towards victim children.

“This handbook is one of the ways to capture attention towards protection of victims’ rights”, – underlined E.Shatvoryan.

In his turn D. Tumasyan noted, that idea of creating this kind of guide evolved long time ago. Before that the same group of authors created a brochure containing practical tips for child interrogation. Brochure contained tactical advices on child interrogation, on its conducting and implementing, howeverthis initial guide didn’t cover the entire practical sphere. Thus, necessity to create a new complete manual has emerged.

“The handbook is based on International Law and is based on the analysis of provision of the draft of the Criminal Proceeding Code of RA (dated on 20.06.2013). The draft is still in the RA National Assembly, but once adopted, it will be quite relevant, since it presents the practical ways which can be widely used during the work with victim children”, – told D.Tumasyan.

Hence, as a result, the handbook consisting of two chapters represents both ational and international Legislation in classified way, further, actions committed with the participation of children and its tactics. The handbook also includes expamples from international practice, which can be applied in National Legislation.

In his speech, Arthur Ghambaryan noted that the criminal proceedings which the handbook is based on are not accidental. From the practical point of view handbook’s advices which involve international experience and patterns make obvious the fact that States must pay proper attention not only to accused adults’ protection of rights, but also to victim children’s rights protection.

All photos of presentation are available through following link:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.970443076302429.1073741845.815159858497419&type=1