Regulations

Approved by The 8th General Assembly of the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Armenia

December 08, 2023

REGULATIONS OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA

(New Edition)

YEREVAN – December 08, 2023

REGULATIONS OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. The Anti-Corruption Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Armenia (hereinafter referred to as the Coalition) is formed and operates on the principles of commonality of anti-corruption values, voluntariness, equality, independence, integrity, and collegial governance.

1.2. The Coalition is an informal association of civil society organizations and operates in accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the Declaration adopted during the founding meeting of the Coalition member organizations on November 28, 2014, and these regulations.

1.3. The name of the Coalition is:

In Armenian: Հայաստանի քաղաքացիական հասարակության կազմակերպությունների հակակոռուպցիոն կոալիցիա, abbreviated as Հայաստանի ՔՀԿ-ների հակակոռուպցիոն կոալիցիա, acronym: ՀՔՀԿ.
In Russian: Антикоррупционная коалиция организаций гражданского общества Армении, abbreviated as Антикоррупционная коалиция ОГО Армении, acronym: АКОА.
In English: Anti-Corruption Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Armenia, abbreviated as CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia, acronym: ACCA.

1.4. The Coalition has a symbol, which is a red hand with a gray dot. The red hand symbolizes intolerance towards corruption and the fight against corruption, with corruption represented by the gray dot in the image. Next to the hand, written in gray, is:

In Armenian: Հայաստանի ՔՀԿ-ների հակակոռուպցիոն կոալիցիա,
In Russian: Антикоррупционная коалиция ОГО Армении,
In English: CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia.

The image of the symbol is attached to these regulations.

1.5. The Coalition may submit proposals arising from its goals and objectives to the state administration bodies, local self-government bodies, independent constitutional bodies, judicial bodies, and other legal entities of the Republic of Armenia.

1.6. The Coalition may cooperate with both state and non-state bodies of the Republic of Armenia, foreign, international and local organizations, as well as individuals.

1.7. The Coalition may have international connections, join networks of international non-governmental and non-profit organizations, sign memoranda and agreements with foreign, international, local organizations and state bodies.

1.8. The location of the Coalition’s secretariat is: Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, 7 Nalbandyan Street, Office 2.

2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COALITION

2.1. The goals of the Coalition are:

a) To increase the effectiveness of public oversight by civil society organizations (hereinafter referred to as CSOs) over the government’s anti-corruption reforms.
b) To contribute to the implementation and development of effective policies and mechanisms aimed at eliminating corruption, to promote the development of a conscientious, transparent, accountable, and professional governance system.
c) To contribute to the formation and establishment of the perception of corruption as a threat to society, to form an environment of intolerance and contempt towards corruption, to create a demand for honest governance in society, and to raise public awareness.
d) To strengthen the capacities of CSOs in monitoring, public oversight, and implementation of anti-corruption activities.

2.2. The objectives of the Coalition are:

a) To implement public oversight programs in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, in local self-government bodies, including in the areas of public service delivery, state reserves, and public procurement, to publicize their results and submit proposals based on the results to the relevant authorities.
b) To develop the CSO-Government anti-corruption platform for the introduction of anti-corruption organizational mechanisms in Armenia, including criminalization of illicit enrichment, establishment and development of an independent anti-corruption body (bodies), whistleblowing system and protection of whistleblowers’ rights, confiscation of property of illegal origin, criminal liability of legal entities, beneficial owners, and a number of other mechanisms and policies.
c) To develop and implement anti-corruption educational programs aimed at raising public awareness and perception of anti-corruption, public participation in the fight against corruption, and protection of the rights of victims of corruption.
d) To implement anti-corruption and integrity programs in the business and public service sectors.
e) To organize seminars, trainings, and other events to strengthen the capacities of CSOs in monitoring, public oversight, and implementation of anti-corruption activities.
f) To develop cooperation between Coalition member organizations.
g) To cooperate with the UN Convention against Corruption Coalition and other sectoral organizations.
h) To participate in the drafting and examination of anti-corruption laws.
i) To organize general assemblies, workshops, schools, seminars, round tables, courses, meetings, discussions, award ceremonies, and carry out other activities aimed at developing the anti-corruption field.

3. COALITION MEMBERSHIP, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS

Coalition members can be civil society organizations, including social movements, initiatives, business and local government associations, media outlets that have joined the Coalition’s Declaration, accept these Regulations, contribute to the realization of the Coalition’s goals through their activities, and make voluntary financial support payments to ensure the operation of the Coalition’s secretariat.

3.1. The decision on admission to the Coalition is made by the Coalition’s Governing Board based on a written application, with the recommendation of at least two members of the Governing Board.

3.2. The Coalition maintains a record of its members and periodically updates their data. The procedure and conditions for maintaining the record of Coalition members are established by the Coalition’s Governing Board.

3.3. Withdrawal from Coalition membership is done based on the written application of the member or by decision of the Coalition’s Governing Board to expel the member from the Coalition for non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment of the obligations specified in clause 3.6 of these regulations.

3.4. A Coalition member has the right to:

a) participate in the management of the Coalition through its representatives,
b) submit proposals, comments, and practical programs regarding the Coalition’s activities,
c) freely express their own views,
d) initiate programs aimed at the development of the Coalition,
e) be informed about the Coalition’s activities,
f) use the Coalition’s legal, technical, informational, and other support,
g) freely withdraw from Coalition membership.

3.5. A Coalition member is obliged to:

a) uphold and spread anti-corruption values,
b) participate in and support the Coalition’s activities,
c) contribute to the development of the Coalition,
d) inform Coalition members about grant competitions in the anti-corruption field announced by various organizations, and when participating in these grant competitions on behalf of the Coalition or within the framework of cooperation with the Coalition, form consortia consisting of Coalition member organizations to the extent possible,
e) inform Coalition members about their participation in various anti-corruption grant competitions and share the results with them,
f) not act on behalf of the Coalition without authorization from the Coalition’s competent body,
g) act in accordance with these regulations, fulfill the requirements of the Coalition’s regulations, and the decisions of the Coalition’s governing bodies,
h) make voluntary financial support payments to ensure the operation of the Coalition’s secretariat.

3.6. Responsibility of a Coalition member:

a) A Coalition member bears responsibility for their obligations specified in these Regulations by decision of the Coalition’s Governing Board or, upon its presentation, by decision of the Coalition’s General Assembly,
b) The measures of responsibility for a Coalition member are:

Restriction of participation in programs and events implemented by the Coalition,
Restriction of the provision of information about the Coalition’s activities,
Restriction of participation in the Coalition’s General Assembly,
Restriction of representation in the Coalition’s Governing Board,
Deprivation of Coalition membership.

c) A Coalition member is not responsible for the obligations of the Coalition or other member organizations, and the Coalition is not responsible for the obligations of its members.

4. STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE COALITION

4.1. The management structure of the Coalition consists of the General Assembly, the Governing Board, and the Secretariat.

4.2. Control over the activities of the Coalition is carried out by the Coalition’s General Assembly.

4.3. The supreme body of the Coalition is the General Assembly of its members, which has the final decision-making right on any issue of Coalition management and activities.

4.4. The Coalition’s General Assembly can be convened through representative delegates according to the quota set by the Governing Board. The Governing Board determines the day, time, and place of the General Assembly, as well as the draft agenda of the General Assembly, and notifies Coalition members electronically about this no later than 10 calendar days before the General Assembly.

4.5. The Coalition’s General Assembly organizes its work in the form of sessions, which are convened as needed, but not less than once a year.

4.6. An extraordinary General Assembly of the Coalition is convened by the Coalition’s Secretariat based on a reasoned decision of the Coalition’s Governing Board, or at least 1/3 of the total number of Coalition members, within 15 calendar days. Extraordinary General Assemblies are convened with the agenda of the convener.

4.7. The Coalition’s General Assembly can discuss issues and make decisions if 1/3 of the total number of all Coalition members or all General Assembly delegates participate in the Coalition’s General Assembly. Decisions are made by a simple majority of votes of the General Assembly participants. The General Assembly can also discuss issues and make decisions through other means of online communication.

4.8. The Coalition’s General Assembly:

a) approves the Coalition’s regulations, makes changes to them and (or) approves regulations in a new edition,
b) determines the number and quotas of the Coalition’s Governing Board, elects members of the Coalition’s Governing Board for a one-year term (the organization performing the functions of the Coalition’s Secretariat is ex officio included in the composition of the Coalition’s Governing Board), changes the composition of the Governing Board, terminates the powers of Governing Board members prematurely,
c) discusses and approves the decision on voluntary support payments of Coalition members,
d) discusses and approves the reports of the Coalition’s Governing Board and Secretariat.

4.9. Powers of the Coalition’s Governing Board:

a) The Governing Board is the governing body of the Coalition in the period between Coalition General Assemblies,
b) discusses and makes decisions on all issues related to the Coalition’s activities, except for issues that fall within the competence of the Coalition’s General Assembly,
c) prepares the Coalition’s General Assemblies, determines the quota of Coalition General Assembly delegates according to the number of Coalition members, organizes the election of Coalition General Assembly delegates at least 15 days before the date of the Coalition General Assembly,
d) makes decisions on joining and expelling from the Coalition,
e) makes decisions on applying responsibility measures specified in these Regulations to Coalition members,
f) makes decisions on creating and dissolving permanent and temporary commissions, working and territorial groups and/or other structures of the Coalition, approves their work procedures, which cannot contradict these regulations, appoints and dismisses their coordinators and responsible persons, gives them powers of attorney,
g) discusses and approves the Coalition’s strategic plan, sustainability and financial plan, monitoring program, visibility plan, and other documents.
h) discusses and approves the composition of consortia formed by Coalition members and programs to be submitted for anti-corruption grant competitions on behalf of the Coalition or within the framework of cooperation with the Coalition, monitors their implementation,
i) elects members of the Coalition’s commissions, working and territorial groups, expert committee and/or other structures,
j) makes decisions on the Coalition’s membership in public councils, commissions and other bodies attached to state and independent structures, as well as international anti-corruption networks,
k) elects the chairman of the Governing Board and prematurely terminates his powers,
l) accepts and makes statements, reports, appeals and observations on behalf of the Coalition.

4.10. Procedure for organizing the activities of the Coalition’s Governing Board:

a) The Coalition’s Governing Board convenes its regular meetings once every two months by the Coalition’s Secretariat. An extraordinary meeting of the Coalition’s Governing Board can be convened by the Coalition’s Secretariat:

At the written request of at least 1/3 of the members of the Coalition’s Governing Board,
At the written request of the Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board,
At the written request of the Coordinator of the Coalition’s Secretariat.

b) The meeting of the Coalition’s Governing Board can discuss issues and make decisions if more than half of the total number of board members participate in the meeting. Decisions are made by a simple majority of votes of the members of the Coalition’s Governing Board participating in the meeting.
c) The Coalition’s Governing Board may convene extended meetings with the participation of coordinators and responsible persons of the Coalition’s commissions, expert committee and territorial groups, as well as other members of the Coalition,
d) Other individuals and legal entities may be invited to the meeting of the Coalition’s Governing Board by its decision.

4.11. A member of the Coalition’s Governing Board has the right to:

a) be elected as the Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board in accordance with these Regulations,
b) submit proposals, comments, practical programs regarding the activities of the Coalition and the Governing Board,
c) freely express their own views,
d) carry out monitoring and control of the decisions of the Coalition’s Governing Board,
e) be informed about the results of monitoring the activities of the Coalition and the Governing Board,
f) use the Coalition’s legal, technical, informational and other support,
g) freely withdraw from membership of the Coalition’s Governing Board according to their application.

4.12. A member of the Coalition’s Governing Board is obliged to:

a) regularly participate in Governing Board meetings (in case of impossibility to participate in the meeting, authorize another representative of the Organization),
b) uphold and spread anti-corruption values by personal example,
c) participate in and support the activities of the Coalition and its Governing Board,
d) contribute to the development of the Coalition,
e) contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the Coalition’s Governing Board,
f) act in accordance with these regulations, fulfill the requirements of the Coalition’s regulations, decisions of the Coalition’s governing bodies,
h) make voluntary financial support payments to ensure the operation of the Coalition’s secretariat,
i) submit a report on the work done during the reporting period to the Coalition’s Secretariat at the end of their term of office for publication at the Coalition’s General Assembly.

4.13. Responsibility of a member of the Coalition’s Governing Board:

a) A member of the Coalition’s Governing Board bears responsibility for their obligations specified in these Regulations by decision of the Coalition’s Governing Board or, upon its presentation, by decision of the Coalition’s General Assembly,
b) The measures of responsibility for a member of the Coalition’s Governing Board are:

Restriction of participation in the meetings of the Coalition’s Governing Board for a period specified by the decision of the Governing Board,
Restriction of the provision of information about the activities of the Coalition and its Governing Board for a period specified by the decision of the Governing Board,
Early termination of powers of a member of the Coalition’s Governing Board by decision of the Coalition’s General Assembly.

4.14. Procedure for electing the Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board:

a) The Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board is elected at the first meeting of the Coalition’s Governing Board convened on the same day after regular or extraordinary General Assemblies of the Coalition by the members of the Governing Board formed on the basis of these Regulations, from among its composition,
b) The Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board is elected for a one-year term,
c) The same member of the Governing Board cannot be elected as the Chairman of the Governing Board more than twice in a row.

4.15. Powers of the Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board,

a) The Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board has all the rights of a member of the Coalition’s Governing Board specified in these Regulations,
b) The Chairman of the Governing Board chairs the meetings of the Coalition’s Governing Board,
c) The Chairman of the Governing Board is obliged to put to vote every proposal made by the members of the Governing Board regarding the activities of the Coalition during the meeting of the Governing Board,
d) The Chairman of the Governing Board submits proposals regarding the discipline and activity of the Governing Board members to subject them to responsibility specified in these Regulations,
e) The Chairman of the Governing Board, together with the Coordinator of the Coalition’s Secretariat, signs the minutes of the Governing Board meetings,
f) The Chairman of the Governing Board, with the consent of the Governing Board, represents the Coalition’s Governing Board in relations with third parties,
g) The Chairman of the Governing Board exercises other powers provided for the Chairman of the Governing Board by the Coalition’s Regulations.
h) The powers of the Chairman of the Governing Board terminate in the following cases:

In case of failure to participate in the Governing Board meeting at least once without a valid reason.
In case of submitting a written resignation to the Governing Board.
By decision of the Governing Board.

i) In case of non-participation of the Chairman of the Governing Board in the Governing Board meeting and submission of a written resignation to the Governing Board, until the election of a new Chairman of the Governing Board, the meeting of the Governing Board is chaired by the Coordinator of the Coalition’s Secretariat.

4.16. The Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board is obliged to:

a) properly fulfill all the duties assigned to a member of the Governing Board by these Regulations,
b) regularly organize and conduct meetings of the Governing Board,
c) regularly participate in the meetings of the Governing Board and conduct the meetings in accordance with the procedure established by these Regulations,
d) uphold the honor and responsibility of the Chairman of the Governing Board by personal example,
e) contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the Coalition’s Governing Board,
f) act in accordance with these regulations, fulfill the requirements of the Coalition’s regulations, decisions of the Coalition’s governing bodies.

4.17. Responsibility of the Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board:

a) The Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board bears responsibility for the duties of a member of the Governing Board and the Chairman of the Governing Board specified in these Regulations by decision of the Coalition’s Governing Board or, upon its presentation, by decision of the Coalition’s General Assembly,
b) The measures of responsibility for the Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board are:

Restriction of participation in the meetings of the Coalition’s Governing Board for a period specified by the decision of the Governing Board,
Restriction of the provision of information about the activities of the Coalition and its Governing Board for a period specified by the decision of the Governing Board,
Termination of the powers of the Chairman of the Coalition’s Governing Board by decision of the Governing Board,
Early termination of powers of a member of the Coalition’s Governing Board by decision of the Coalition’s General Assembly.

4.18. The Coalition’s Expert Committee:

a) consists of recognized local and international experts in the anti-corruption field, individuals who are elected by the Coalition’s Governing Board,
b) provides expert support for the development and strengthening of the Coalition,
c) strengthens the Coalition’s international connections,
d) contributes to ensuring the financial sustainability of the Coalition,
e) represents the Coalition in crucial anti-corruption platforms with the knowledge and authorization of the Coordinator of the Coalition’s Secretariat.

4.19. The Coalition’s Secretariat:

a) is the executive body of the Coalition,
b) ensures the normal course and transparency of the work of the Coalition’s bodies,
c) chairs, records, and signs the minutes of the Coalition’s General Assembly sessions,
d) records the meetings of the Governing Board,
e) The Coalition’s Secretariat sends all minutes of the Governing Board meetings to the members of the Governing Board within four working days, after which, if there are no objections or additions from the members within two working days, it is signed by the Chairman of the Governing Board and the Coordinator of the Coalition’s Secretariat.
f) manages the Coalition’s archive,
g) coordinates the current and organizational work of the Coalition, including representing the Coalition in relations with third parties,
h) on behalf of the Coalition, submits proposals and other documents prepared by the Coalition to the competent authorities and organizations, signs bilateral documents with third parties on behalf of the Coalition,
i) coordinates the work of raising funds necessary for organizing the Coalition’s work,
j) maintains a record of Coalition members, a register of new membership applications submitted,
k) submits reports on the work done by itself and the expert committee to the Coalition’s Governing Board and General Assembly.
l) The functions of the Coalition’s Secretariat are carried out by the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” public organization, whose president is ex officio the Coordinator of the Coalition’s Secretariat.

5. COALITION FUNDS

5.1. The Coalition does not have separate property.

5.2. The Coalition’s funds, by decision of the Coalition’s Governing Board, are attracted through the Coalition’s member organization(s), and the attracted funds are used exclusively for the implementation of the Coalition’s goals and objectives.

5.3. The Coalition’s funds are also generated from other sources not prohibited by law.

6. FINAL PROVISIONS

6.1. The Coalition may cease to exist by decision of the General Assembly if 2/3 of the total number of Assembly members vote in favor of that decision.

6.2. The termination of the Coalition does not create obligations for member organizations.

6.3. With the adoption of these regulations, the Rotation Procedure for Electing the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Civil Society Organizations approved by the Governing Board of the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on June 30, 2016, is recognized as invalid.

Image of the symbol of the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Armenia