Human Rights Watch

The NGO, Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently released its "World Report 2010"

http://www.hrw.org/en/publications

reminding its readers that human rights violations remain universal. The report's chapter on Armenia states that country hasn't improved since last year's dismal findings. The country has a problem with political prisoners and "the Armenian Helsinki Association reported at least four cases of torture of opposition supporters in custody in 2009..." Additionally one independent tv station, A1+ has not been permitted to resume broadcasting. Some Armenian politicians in the ruling party grumbled that the report lacks objectivity.

The report is quiet objective, and it takes aim at the many problems facing big western nations too. Armenia actually comes off pretty well compared to the troubles in the US and the EU. Have a look at the US report if you have a chance http://www.hrw.org/en/node/87447. It begins with the nice little fact that US citizens have "broad range of civil liberties and have recourse to a strong system of independent federal and state courts," then the thrashing begins.

It estimates that "2,574 US prisoners serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole for crimes committed when they were under age 18. There are no persons known to be serving life without parole sentences for crimes committed as children anywhere else in the world."

Another disturbing fact, the US has both the largest incarcerated population (2.4 million) and the highest incarceration rate in the world.

The report goes on to detail sexual violence, Guantanamo & Indefinite Detention, but overall you are left with a feeling that the US prison system is in massive need for reform.