On 2 May, the public discussion on “Presentation of the Results of the International Civil Society Week 2019 and the Formation Process of the EU-Armenia CSO Platform, the Role of CSOs in Human Rights Protection and Public Policy Development” was held in the scope of the EU-funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project.
Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers, Association, the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project Manager, welcomed the participants in the opening speech. “We believe, that after the velvet revolution, dialogue between the civil society organizations and the government, should be more robust, constructive and effective. In this regard, we have helped more than 100 CSOs to develop and strengthen their knowledge and capacity in the areas of evidence-based public policies, conducting monitoring, as well as coalition/network building skills and establishing constructive and sustainable dialogue with the government.” He noted that a number of agreements on cooperation had been reached with various ministries and active work is being carried out.
Mr. Emin Yeritsyan, EaP CORLEAP Co-Chairman, President of the Union of Communities of Armenia, presented the current state of creating the EU-Armenia CSO Platform and upcoming actions within the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. “The civil society still does not consider it important enough, does not comprehend and is not involved enough in these processes, and it’s time for civil society to demonstrate a stronger ambition. We have had considerable changes in Armenia and there is a great need for the role and importance of civil society as we want to have a truly democratic country both at national and local levels, we have to be active citizens. This is a challenge facing our civil society,” he said. Emin Yeritsyan added that within the framework of the CCD project 10 coalitions have created the “Constructive Dialogue Network of Armenian CSOs”, with more than 250 community organizations involved, and from this point of view it is important that this multipurpose network participates directly in the EU-Armenia CSO platform.
Mr. Rustam Badasyan, Vice-President of the State Revenue Committee, mentioned that CSOs have already had a successful precedent in the workshop. The working discussion was held to elaborate draft amendments and additions to the RA Laws on Foundations and NGOs. “I suggest that we add another working session and take into account our views and opinions. It would be great if we have a definitive unified position and perhaps it will be one of the exceptional cases that the state and civil society are consciously moving to the changes together, with which it will be well-established.”
Speeches were also delivered by: Ms Anna Avagyan, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Capacity Building Manager, presented the results of the International Civil Society Week 2019; Mr. Sergey Tantoushyan, Director of AUA Extension program of the American University in Armenia; Ms Gayane Vardanyan, head of “Wikimedia Armenia” Scientific and Educational NGO; Ms Syuzanna Soghomonyan, Board Member of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, Government-CSO Dialogue Coordinator/Lawyer of the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project; Ms Astghine Pasoyan, “CSOs for Sustainable and Transparent Energy Development” Project Manager; Ms Anaida Mikayelyan, representative of the “Power of Law” NGO, member of the Human Rights Protection Coalition presented the work carried out in the scope of the “Human Rights: Monitoring and Publicity” project, related to the Threats to Human Rights Defenders in Armenia; Mr. Hovsep Khurshudyan, President of the “Free Citizen” Civic Initiatives Support Centre” NGO, presented the work done within the framework of project “For Overcoming Radicalization, Xenophobia and Hatred among the Youth of Armenia”; and Mr. Artyom Mesropyan, “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project Expert, SRC-CSO Working Group Member, presented the current state of the SRC-CSO working group and the forthcoming steps to improve the draft amendments to the RA Laws on Foundations and NGOs.
The “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union by a Consortium of civil society organisations, which are the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (lead organisation), 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.
The project aims to enhance the influence of civil society organisations (CSOs) and CSO coalitions/networks on public policies in Armenia. This will allow organisations that are already working in sectoral coalitions to access additional resources, new groups of civil society experts to come together and encourage place their causes on the local and national policy agenda, to identify common concerns and priorities and approach government bodies with constructive and strategic policy engagement initiatives.
The project has provided sub-grants to 9 CSO coalitions that are directed to the development of public policies and will have tangible results in the 9 target sectors of the project: Justice, Human Rights, Public Finance Management, Business, Education, Social Sector (social inclusion of children with disabilities), Agriculture, Economy and Energy. 29 small sub-grants have also been allocated to CSOs.
