OSCE in Yerevan helps organize international seminar, parliamentary hearings on police oversight

External police oversight and accountability mechanisms were discussed at an OSCE-supported international seminar held on 19 June 2014 in Yerevan. OSCE official web-site writes about this. 

The event is a joint initiative of the Armenian National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs; the Geneva Centre of the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) and the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

“The lawfulness and legitimacy of police actions directly depend upon the effective accountability procedures applicable to the police: if there is a lack of accountability, the public may lose its trust in the police”, said William Hanlon, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “I believe this seminar will be a useful platform for productive discourse about police reforms in Armenia in general and police accountability in particular.”

Seminar participants representing various departments of the Armenian Police, as well as members and experts of the Parliamentary Commission had a chance to learn about the international experience in police oversight. In particular, DCAF experts from the UK and Montenegro introduced their countries’ experience in police oversight and monitoring mechanisms.

The discussions will continue tomorrow, 20 June, at the hearings at the National Assembly of Armenia to be chaired by the Chair of the Standing Committee, with participation of members of the Parliament, high level representatives from the Police, DCAF, OSCE and civil society representatives.