"The Role of Right Protective Organizations in the Protection of Human Rights"
REPORT
Yerevan 16 July 2007
The Human Rights Committee of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) and the Law Foundation of Armenia organized a discussion on the Role of Right Protective Organizations in the Protection of Human Rights, which was held at 11:00 a.m., on 16 July 2007in Yerevan Golden Tulip Hotel.
The discussion was aimed at raising the role and importance of the right protective organizations; to elaborate efficient mechanisms for their cooperation with the governmental bodies; provide opportunity to work out more effective suggestions for elaboration of new approaches referring to the protection of human rights in the Republic of Armenia and their introduction to the attention of the relevant structures.
Representatives from the Armenian and international right protective NGOs, the National Assembly of the RA, the international and foreign organizations in Armenia, the Chamber of Advocates of the RA and other interested organizations attended the discussion.
Miss Gayane Marukyan, head of the AYLA Human Rights Committee, greeted the participants and introduced the agenda.
Further, advocate Karen Zadoyan, AYLA President opened the discussion and greeted the guests. He noted the role of the Right Protective Organizations and stressed the importance to establish a joint public awareness project and foundation of the legal resource centers. He emphasized the necessity to strengthen the right protective organizations as well. At the same time he mentioned that the grant based project are not enough to realize this purposes and pointed the need of the governmental investments as well. Another crucial problem here is the improvement of the legislative fields, introduction of the international legal instruments and their adaptation in the domestic laws. At the same time he mentioned the latest introduction of the institute of accredited advocates at the RA Cassation Court. He called this act as contradicting to the Constitutional, and suggested starting the second generation reforms from the judiciary system.
Ms Arevik Petrosyan, head of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National Assembly of the RA, Mr. Arthur Sakunts, Head of Helsinki Citizens Association Vanadzor office, and Mr. Harutyun Kharatyan, chairman of “Faith” Trade Union of ArmenTel CJS Company referred to the existing state of the human rights in the RA and introduced the activities, which their entities carried out in this context and gained experience. After the reports the participants spoke about the issues of their concern and held active discussions.
In the end the organizers invited the participants to a reception, which provided them an opportunity to socialize in a more friendly and informal atmosphere.
The seminar-discussion The Role of Right Protective Organizations in the Protection of Human Rights was covered by "AR", "Armnews", "H2" TV Companies, Radio Station "Freedom", The Armenian Public Radio, as well as "Aravot", "Iravunk" and "Hayastani Hanarapetutyun" Dailies.
