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On November 26, 2014, HCA Vanadzor organized a workshop in Congress hotel which aimed at discussing issues of Drug Policy of Republic of Armenia. During the workshop HCAV presented the analytic report on 2010-2012 National Program of fight against Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking in RA from the perspective of protection of citizens with drug addiction problems as well as Report on Human Rights Situation at Narcological Facilties of the Republic of Armenia in 2013.

The reports were prepared based on monitoring results conducted in RA narcological facilities, evaluation of implemented National Program results, and analysis of official statements and observation of materials published by the media. Reports were prepared and published within Sustainability and Development Program with the financial support of Open Society Foundations.

Highlighting the importance of HCAV’s role and work in the sphere of protecting rights of people using drugs, the deputy director of programs at OSI David Amiryan mentioned that there are a number of issues in Armenia because of which people in need of palliative care are deprived of the opportunity to live without pain. Particularly, D. Amiryan distinguished inaccessibility of medication with drug substances for medical use. During the presentation of analytic report on 2010-2012 National Program of fight against Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking in RA HCAV President Arthur Sakunts noted that out of 87 activities specified in the timeline of National Program 27 have been implemented fully and 23 have not been implemented.

Noteworthy is the fact that RA Police adjacent to RA Government is the responsible body for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program, however, responsible for the majority of activities not implemented is the mentioned authority.

Reflecting on the nature and content of the materials published by media and official websites in 2011-2013, A. Sakunts noted that more than half out of 1723 observed materials were of investigative and penalizing character. From the perspective of rights violation, media materials violate personal privacy right of individuals. Particularly, they publish such personal information as names, last names, addresses, birth date and other private information. Materials that violate personal privacy rights are published on the official webpage of the RA Police adjacent to the RA Government.

This is where not only the individual’s face is revealed through publicized videos but also the presumption about person’s innocence is violated. Summarizing the nature of 2010-2012 National program and the results of its implementation, A. Sakunts noticed that RA policy in fight against Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking is of penalizing nature.

Syuzanna Gharaghashyan patient’s counsel from HCA Vanadzor presented problems of healthcare services provided to people with drug addiction problems. The mentioned problems have been identified in RA narcological facilities in the results of monitoring conducted in 2013 and the problems are summarized in “Human Rights Situation at Narcological Facilties of the Republic of Armenia in 2013” report.

1. Gharaghashyan noted that besides the monitoring in narcological facilities HCA Vanadzor studies the implementation process and application dynamics for Methadone substitution treatment program implemented with the financial support of Global Foundation. Among the problems of healthcare services provided to people with drug addiction problems are the insufficient conditions of the medical facilities, scarce number of medical staff and lack of professional qualifications, inaccessibility of medical services and ineffectiveness of methods as well as lack of protection of the rights of people receiving healthcare services.

It is noteworthy that an RA police representative is involved in implementation of healthcare programs. Particularly, an RA police representative is a member of a participant selection committee of Methadone substitutions program; the only exception is Lori region.

During the workshop HCA Vanadzor presented recommendations directed to the abolition of the penalizing policy of fight against Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking and increase of accessibility of healthcare programs. The recorded problems and the recommendations are fully presented in the reports below.