press release
Peace Dialogue NGO’s new website http://safesoldiers.am is now available. It contains database on non-combat fatalities, deceased soldiers and human rights violations recorded in the RA Armed Forces since signing of the cease-fire in 1994 after the Nagorno Kharabagh war.
As of today, the on-line database includes more than 500 death cases. The compilation of the database became possible due to the information received from media and watchdog groups working on human rights protection in the armed forces, from victims’ relatives and successors, as well as from the information received from state bodies (MoD, military investigative service, etc) in response to numerous inquiries addressed to them.
The staff working on the website tried to list the descriptions of the cases, the places, the dates, the causes, the investigative processes initiated in regards to those cases, as well as the following investigative and trial processes and the violations revealed during those processes.
The aim of the database is to collect and spread information about each of the death cases and human rights violations in the RA Armed Forces. In another words, after a while the website will become a full database. The visitors can also have their contribution in the completion of the database by posting information or uploading photos or media materials about fatality cases or human rights violations in the army that have not been recorded yet in the website or elsewhere. After the moderation of the information from the website by its administrators, the posted information will be available in the website with tags “Verified” or “Unverified”.
According to the implementing team, the ultimate effect of the project will be for example the fact that the quick updates about the illegalities and human rights violations recorded in any of the units and posted by the witnesses can serve as an alarm for the authorities to take necessary actions after they are clarified and approved.
In addition, staff will continue to update various human rights related announcement and news releases available for the visitors of the website as information is discovered. Certain sections of the website include the RA legislation regulating the relationship between the armed forces and citizens, international agreements, local regulations, documents, reports and publications, as well as various research and expert opinions related to the topic.
The website is prepared within the project Safe Soldiers for a Safe Armenia supported by Dutch organization Pax.
Pax means peace. PAX brings together people who have the courage to stand for peace. Together with people in conflict areas and concerned citizens worldwide, PAX works to build dignified, democratic, and peaceful societies across the globe.
Posted 08 July, 2014
