The Human rights defender (in Armenian Մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպան) is an independent state institution which observes the maintenance of human rights and freedoms by public and local self-government bodies and officials in Armenia. The Human rights defender also acts as the National Preventive Mechanism for the Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and is independent of the government, parliament and courts.
The Human rights defender can examine complaints related to potential human rights violations and determine whether your human rights have been violated by state and local self-government bodies and officials, as well as by organisations exercising the powers delegated thereto by state and local self-government bodies. He can also suggest the Constitutional Court to decide if certain legal provisions have a negative effect on human rights or good governance.
In all other cases, if a person, who is not a state official, or a private company has violated your rights, you must first file a complaint to the institution responsible for investigating such situations (such as the police, the civil court).
The Human rights defender will start the examination about a potential violation if you have brought a complain that your rights were violated by state and local self-government bodies and officials.
example If you believe that police detained you unlawfully you can immediately write to the Human rights defender. The Human rights defender’s representatives can visit you in places where you are deprived of liberty.