Founding Assembly
On November 28, 2014, the Armenian Young Lawyers Association NGO organized an anti-corruption event in Yerevan within the framework of the “Multifaceted Anti-corruption Promotion” project funded by the European Union.
The event consisted of two parts: the first part was dedicated to the establishment of the anti-corruption coalition.
Representatives from international and state structures, civil society from Yerevan and Armenian regions, and media participated in the event.
Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association NGO and Head of the “Multifaceted Anti-corruption Promotion” project, delivered a welcome speech at the event. He emphasized the importance of establishing the anti-corruption coalition, noting that it aims to enhance the effectiveness of the fight against corruption in Armenia.
Mr. Zadoyan presented the declaration and working procedures of the Anti-Corruption Coalition. CSO representatives suggested several changes, which were accepted. The presentation, discussion, and approval of the CSOs’ anti-corruption coalition monitoring program also took place.
The goals of the Civil Society Organizations’ Anti-Corruption Coalition are:
- to increase the effectiveness of CSO oversight of government anti-corruption reforms,
- to contribute to the strengthening and development of anti-corruption institutional mechanisms,
- to promote public awareness and perception of anti-corruption, protect the rights of citizens who have fallen victim to corruption,
- to strengthen CSOs’ capacities related to monitoring, public oversight, and implementation of anti-corruption activities.
In the first part of the event, participants also addressed the draft of the RA Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2014-2018. CSO representatives unanimously adopted a message to be sent to RA Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, requesting to include the social security sector in the strategy draft, criminalize illicit enrichment, expand the number of NGOs in the Anti-Corruption Council approving the strategy from two to five, and establish an independent anti-corruption commission.
At this moment, the second part of the event has begun. RA Deputy Minister of Justice Suren Krmoyan is delivering a welcome speech.
The main goal of the project is to increase the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in promoting and implementing anti-corruption reforms. The project will strengthen the monitoring and oversight capabilities of CSOs and media. Anti-corruption training courses will be organized for CSOs and media in Armenian regions to better understand corruption-related issues and freedom of information. These activities aim to deepen the existing opportunities for implementing anti-corruption actions. Small grants will be provided to improve public oversight effectiveness and implement relevant monitoring, oversight, and investigative programs. To strengthen anti-corruption institutional mechanisms, a sustainable CSO-government dialogue will be developed with CSO participation.
The project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association NGO (implementer) in cooperation with the Freedom of Information Center NGO (partner). The project duration is 3 years (from January 2014 to December 2016).