August 2006
"Menq, Duq, Nranq" Biweekly
"The Rights of the Youth to Education and Labour are violated in General"
The Law on Alternative Service was adopted some years ago. The main aim of the law is to regulate the process of substituting the compulsory military service of the RA citizen with an alternative service. What is the situation after coming of this law into force? This was the opening question of our conversation with Mr. Karen Zadoyan, advocate, President of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association.
- I consider the adoption of the RA Law on Alternative service an important step, which provided opportunity for the people, who, on the assumption of their religion and beliefs do not want to be conscripted or serve in the army and may substitute the military service with alternative military or labour service. I think that the terms of the military and alternative services should become equal. In addition it is necessary to adopt by-laws, which assure application of this law. As far as I know, the Government has already started considering this issue to assure informing the young people about their rights by the regulations, while choosing the alternative service, so that they may rely on the law and not on the will of the officials. I think that in this case we may consider that the problem has been solved in Armenia finally. On the other hand we should consider the issues of the national security and the operational capability of the army as well. This is a point of view, yet only considering of such point of views may enable to find the correct average formula, which will be in favour of realization and protection of the rights of the state, the army as well as of the population.
- What can you say about the legal interrelations in the Army? Have such surveys been conducted?
- We have not conducted such surveys. I have read about this in mass media. And I cannot provide an expert opinion in this respect. At the same time I know there are problems in the Army, which need solution.
- Which rights of the youth are violated in general?
- The social surveys show that the right of the youth to education and labour are violated in general. I should note that the reason for these violations is the low level of knowledge of the youth on their rights, which in its turn results in inability to protect their rights. The analysis revealed that the courts lack enough authority and respect among the youth from the as a mean for protection of their freedoms. This is the result of the high level of the corruption risks, which exist in the courts.
- What crimes are committed by the youth?
- The main crimes committed by the youth are theft, hooliganism, impairment of grave damages to health, robbery and robbery with violence, etc. Statistics shows that the youth aged 18-24 commit more crimes. The number of crimes committed by the youth aged 25-29 is rather high as well.
Gayane Tigranyan
