CAT/OP/ARM/1/Add.1 investigation over such type of crimes should be resumed each semester; suggestions should be made, aimed to improve the quality and efficiency of investigations and if it is required, petitions should be brought to the competent divisions of those Law-enforcement agencies of RA, that are frequently mentioned in the application over torture for revealing and removing the circumstances promoting perpetration of torture. 33. One of the most important steps, undertaken by the Special Investigation Service of RA, for organization and fulfillment of effective investigations of cases is the guidebook elaborated by the Service that is on way of publishing. The guidebook will serve as a theoretical, analytic and practical base for the investigators of the Service within investigations of such type of cases. 34. The institutes of higher education of RA and the institutions on trainings of investigators will also be provided with the above-mentioned guidebook with the aim of assisting in acquirement of skills and knowledge for investigation of such crimes. VI. Human Rights Defender’s Office 35. Based on the RA Prime Minister’s recommendation addressed to the RA Human Rights Defender, the following information for the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture Report to the Republic of Armenia has been presented. • During the fourth quarter of 2013 the Government discussed and with the suggestion of the National Assembly approved the RA Human Rights Defender’s request for additional financial means necessary for the fulfillment of obligations undertaken by the Article 6.1 of the RA Human Rights Defender Law as the National Preventive Mechanism defined by the UN Optional Protocol the Convention on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It is noteworthy, that the provided financial means do not cover expenses of the Expert Council adjunct to the RA Human Rights Defender. • According to the National Human Rights Action Plan, amendments to the RA Human Rights Defender’s Law, based on the UN Optional Protocol the Convention on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, are foreseen in the third quarter of 2014. Thus, the concerns raised in the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture Report to the Republic of Armenia will be resolved through the draft. 36. There are no further comments in regards to the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture Report to the Republic of Armenia. 37. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia has the honor to inform that now the Republic of Armenia has an Action Plan deriving from “The National Strategic Program of Human Rights Protection in the Republic of Armenia”. The Strategic Program has been approved by the Order of the Republic of Armenia President ՆԿ–159–Ն on 29.10.2012. 38. In order to implement National Strategic Program the Ministry of Justice in close cooperation with state bodies, Human Rights Defender’s Office, international and nongovernmental organizations, civil society representatives has elaborated and submitted to the Government of the Republic of Armenia the Draft Action Plan. 39. The Plan has been approved by the Decision 303-Ն of the Government of the Republic of Armenia on 27 February 2014. The Chapter VIII of the Action Plan prescribes measures for protection of right to freedom from torture or other cruel, inhuman or 8

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