Training on NGO Legislation for the Representatives of the Youth Initiative Group of Tegh Community of the Armenian UN Association

After the entry into force of the new Law on Non-Governmental Organizations, nowadays, the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGO) have changed dramatically. Today, Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue ” Project Manager, conducted a training on these changes for the representatives of the youth initiative group of Tegh community of the Armenian UN Association.

Karen Zadoyan presented both the general provisions and the current problematic issues. Particularly, there is still no final regulation on how to tax the income of the NGO when the NGO is involved in entrepreneurial activity.

Involvement of volunteers is also an important issue. A new draft has been developed to introduce this institute. According to it the number of volunteers involve shall make 5 percent of the number of NGO staff. This means that the NGO should have at least 20 employees to be able to involve 1 volunteer. This provision implies serious restrictions on the activities of organizations.

The training was organized in the scope of the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union by a Consortium of civil society organizations, which are the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (lead organization), Agora Central Europe (NGO based in the Czech Republic), the Armenian Centre for Democratic Education-CIVITAS, the International Centre for Human Development, the SME Cooperation Association and the Union of Communities of Armenia.