On 20 March, the Armenian Lawyers’ Association organized a workshop on “Ant-Corruption Compliance” in Gyumri which was dedicated to the internal capacity-building of the participants. The workshop was held in the scope of the EU-funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project which was co-funded by Center of International Private Enterprises.
Ms Viktoria Yeghoyan, Head of Gyumri branch of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, welcomed the participants saying “Our organization will provide support by introducing the anti-corruption compliance program in your organizations. This is a Unique Opportunity” she said.
Participants described the definition of corruption as “corruption” in the state bodies, and in their viewpoint, it would be difficult to eliminate it from the private sector unless it disappears in the state bodies.
However, there were representatives who were more or less familiar with the concept. For example, Ms Vehanush Mazmanyan told that her organization has provisions on ethics in its charter, and even frequent events are organized. An Anti-Corruption Compliance Program will be a benefit to the extent that all we do for fight against corruption in different ways, now we will be able to conduct it more systematically and have a joint plan. Later, if we will cooperate with other organizations and this shall becomes an advantage or requirement over time, we will point our program and prove that it is operational,” Vehanush Mazmanyan said. According to her, corruption in Gyumri is minimized, and it is not accepted by citizens.
Mr. Armen Avetisyan mentioned that there are regular personal conversations with the employees on the destructiveness of corruption, as the company had faced with various forms of corruption. I that this program will give us a certain advantage, the confidence will increase among our foreign partners, and we will be confident that we will be able to better organize it. We can say that we are an exemplary company, and if other organizations take an example from us and the number of such organizations would grow, the positive impact will already be visible,” Armen Avetisyan said.
The representatives of the workshop filled pre- and post-tests on their knowledge on and attitude towards corruption. They also played the game of “5 why”, mainly why they need to introduce the Anti-Corruption Compliance Programs in their organizations. The last group assignment was analyzing corruption risks in their own organizations and presenting a plan on their elimination.
