University of Minnesota Human Rights Library

Complaint Submission Procedure

In which cases can one file a complaint with the Human Rights Defender?

You can file a complaint with the Human Rights Defender if your rights are being violated by any agency of the state or local government, and their officials.

At what point should a person complain?

The complaint must be submitted to Human Rights Defender within one year, starting from the date when the complainant knew, or should have known about a violation of his/her rights and basic freedoms.

Is there any special form to file the complaining?

There is no special or standardized form.

How to complain?

A complaint can be submitted to the Human Rights Defender in written form, as well as orally. Complaints can be submitted personally, sent by regular mail, fax, or e-mail.

Address:                 375002, Yerevan, Pushkin St. 56a
Telephone:             (37410) 537651
E-mail                    ombuds@ombuds.am

What kind of information must be included in the complaint?

The applicant must include his/her name, surname and local address. Detailed information about the violation of rights and freedoms should also be included. It is highly recommended to attach all documents related to the incident with the complaint.

How is the complaint processed?

After receiving the complaint, the Human Rights Defender may take the following action:

accept the complaint for investigation;
explain to the applicant the possibilities for protecting his/her rights;
upon the complainant’s consent, forward the complaint to the appropriate state or local governmental body under whose jurisdiction the complaint can be resolved;
or reject the complaint.

Is the complaint investigated by the Human Rights Defender personally?

The Human Rights Defender assigns lawyers to investigate the claim, and then prepares a report on the findings and recommendations.

Can one meet with the Human Rights Defender?

A reception day is organized for citizens every week. Citizens who have submitted a complaint can register in advance to meet the Human Rights Defender.

What types of complaints are not investigated by the Human Rights Defender?

where the evidence, on its face, is insufficient to cause the Human Rights Defender to believe there has been a violation of human rights;
where a court trial is in progress or any situation where the violation can be resolved only through judicial means;
those situations involving violations by non-governmental bodies, organizations and their officials;
if the person claiming violation files a suit or complaint in court, the Human Rights Defender cancels investigation of the complaint;
and anonymous complaints.

Must the Human Rights Defender inform the applicant about the results?

The Human Rights Defender sends a copy of the decision to the complainant as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days from the date when the complaint was received.

Can complaints be directed to the Human Rights Defender from persons who are temporarily in detention wards, penitentiary facilities, jails, psychiatric hospitals and other places of detention?

Complaints and other documents directed to the Human Rights Defender by persons who have been arrested, are in penitentiary facilities under pre-trial detention, or are serving their sentence, as well as those in other institutions of imprisonment, are not subject to inspection and censorship. Complaints and other documents must be sent to the Human Rights Defender by the above mentioned facilities within 24 hours (Article 9, Point 4)

Can the Human Rights Defender undertake measures for the restoration of violated rights, if there is no complaint?

The Human Rights Defender has the authority to start investigations on his/her own initiative, especially in those cases when information on mass violations of human rights and basic freedoms is received, or it is an issue of exclusive social importance, or connected with the necessity of protecting the rights of those persons who are unable, on their own, to use the legal means for their protection.

Source: www.ombuds.am

Home || Treaties || Search || Links