ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ARMENIAN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION FOR 2006
6. AYLA PROJECTS
Advocacy of Human Rights and AYLA Strengthening Program was implemented with the financial support of Dutch Interchurch Organization for development Cooperation (ICCO). The project was aimed at retraining of the lawyers and the members of professional organizations of lawyers in the spheres of the protection of human rights, as well as to publish and disseminate 15 titles of accessible legal leaflets on human rights, training of trainers on the human rights and the mechanisms of human rights protection, organization of seminars on human rights and the mechanisms of human rights protection, providing free legal and information services and free legal aid to the socially vulnerable layers of the population (in particular in the regions). Young lawyers and law students were trained within the frame of the project, and were informed of the changes and amendments in legislation. After the training courses they organized and conducted seminars on raising public awareness for the pupils of senior classes, students, community members. The lawyers, law students, and other individuals interested in law gained opportunity to use free legal resources within the frame of the project as well.
The 2006 Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is being organized by the International Law Students Association (ILSA) since 1959. Student’s teams of the law schools and the departments of law of other institutes worldwide take part in the Competition. In February 2006 AYLA organized the Armenian Round of the 2006 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Student’s teams of the law schools and the departments of law of other institutes of Armenia took part in the competition. The winner of the Armenian National Round the students’ team of the law department of the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State University took part in the International Round of the 2006 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition on 26 March – April 2, 2006 in Washington, US. 99 teams from different countries of the world attended the international round. The Armenian team was the 89th after the Final Preliminary Rounds. The achievement of the Armenian team was notable in the Competition of the Written Memorials. The Memorial of the Armenian team was the 16th in the 2006 Sherman & Sterling International Rounds and it was the 19th in Hardy C. Dillard Competition, which brings together the top Memorials from each of the National and Regional Competition, regardless whether the authoring team advances to the Sherman & Sterling International Rounds. The details on the Competition are available on the official website of “Philip Jessup Law Moot Court Competition Armenian Round” at http://jessup.ayla.am.
Development of Mediation Institute in the Republic of Armenia: An Eurasia Foundation funded project, which is implemented with the technical support of ABA/CEELI and in cooperation with Foundation for Small and Medium Businesses (FSMB) project started on 20 July 2005 and was continued in 2006 as well. The project is aimed at the development of the Mediation Institute in Armenia, as well as to provide training on mediation to the young lawyers and the lawyers of small and medium enterprises through providing them mediation guidelines, procedures, and a code of ethics for mediators. This will enable the SME representatives to solve the disputes by means alternative dispute resolution. AYLA published three titles of information leaflets, including “Development of Mediation Institute in the Republic of Armenia” project, Mediation and Arbitration Courts, and Methods for Alternative Dispute Resolution. The organization also published the guidebook “Mechanisms for Alternative Dispute Resolution.” The leaflets and the guidebook are disseminated freely among the interested organizations and individuals. In the framework of the project AYLA realized free legal advice services for the SME representatives, as well as the practicing lawyers on the moot issues arising during their entrepreneurial activities. AYLA organized mediation training and seminars for mediators (SME representatives, lawyers and law students) with the support of ABA/CEELI experts. In addition AYLA through its office network has organized seminars on alternative dispute resolution for the SME representatives, law students and lawyers. AYLA in cooperation with FSMB has formed a mediation court. AYLA launched the webpage (http://arbitration.ayla.am) of the project as well; where you may find the details of the project.
Development of the Mechanisms for the Protection of Human Rights and Raising Legal Awareness in the Republic of Armenia: AYLA started project implementation on 1 June 2006, with the financial support of Dutch Interchurch Organization for development Cooperation (ICCO). The project is aimed at implementing development programs for raising the legal awareness of the population, as well as the sphere of the protection of human rights, establishment of the Justice system and the civil society and strengthening of AYLA’s internal organizational capacity. AYLA has already published 50 titles of information leaflets, on the protection of everyday human rights, as well as the mechanisms for the protection of human rights. The leaflets are disseminated among the population of the rural districts of the RA. The trained volunteer trainers in the framework of the project are carrying out seminars for the pupils of the senior classes of the public schools, students, employees of different organizations, as well as for the community members on the themes included in the leaflets. AYLA continues providing free legal advice services to the socially vulnerable layers of the population in the framework of this project as well through the network of its regional offices. The practicing lawyers, law students and other individuals that are interested in law, gain opportunity to use AYLA legal resources in the framework of the project. The AYLA publishes the monthly Legal Newsletter within the frame of the project, which is disseminated among the young lawyers, law students, advocates, judges and other interested persons and entities in Yerevan and in the regions. The newsletter raises the problems that exist in the legal sphere of the Republic of Armenia and suggests serious expert opinions, analysis and surveys on the issues of the protection of human rights. It also advocates professional ethics for the judges, advocates and representatives of the law enforcement bodies. It is aimed to introduce the current international legal practice and to promote the education and formation of the new generation of lawyers. The Newsletter provides opportunity to everyone to publish their articles, analysis and opinions on the current problems that exist in the legal field, thus promoting to publicize the current vital problems and to suggest the ways for their solution.
Raising the Legal Awareness of the Populations of 20 Rural Communities in Vardenis and Chambarak Regions of Gegharkunik Province: AYLA started project implementation on 1 September 2005, with the support of “Shen” Charitable Nom-Governmental Organization, through funds leveraged by ICCO Holland and was continued in the third quarter of 2006 as well. The project is aimed at provision of accessible pro bono legal advice services through onsite visits by AYLA Gegharkunik regional branch to the population of rural communities of Vardenis and Chambarak regions of Gegharkunik Province who have no opportunity to use the necessary legal services. The program promotes to raising the level of legal consciousness of the population through organizing public hearings with the involvement of the representatives of the local self-government, and thus insuring their awareness of the beneficiaries on the activities of the local self-government and insuring their participation in the community life. AYLA publishes the project’s Newsletter, which is disseminated freely among the rural population of the regions.
Publicizing of the New Constitutional Provisions and Corresponding Legal Amendments: AYLA implemented the project in April 2006. The project was aimed at publicizing of the new constitutional provisions and the amendments to the laws. AYLA Yerevan and regional offices organized seminars on the constitutional provisions, as well as corresponding legal amendments for the young lawyers in the framework of the project. After graduating the training course, the lawyers conducted seminars on voluntary basis in schools, institutes, communities and different entities. AYLA organized a Republican Scientific Conference, which discussed the new constitutional provisions as well as corresponding legal amendments and judicial reforms. The project implementation promoted to raising the educational and professional level of the young lawyers, as well as provided opportunity to raise the legal awareness of the public on the new constitutional provisions and corresponding legal amendments.
AYLA Self Assessment 2005 and Review of the AYLA Strategic Plan On 11 – 12 February, 2006 Armenian Young Lawyers Association organized a self-assessment workshop and a seminar to review the AYLA Strategic Plan, which took place in AYLA central Office in Yerevan. AYLA members, volunteers, representatives of the staff, as well as of the AYLA Board and from partner organizations attended the seminar. In the result of the discussions the participants revealed the infrastructures that needed special attention. Based on these results the participants elaborated the Organization’s Development Plan 2006, which was aimed at strengthening those infrastructures. In result of the discussion the participants summarized the results of AYLA’s activities in 2005 and analyzed the 4 strategic directions of the organization, and introduced suggestions and comments on their review and changes.
Jessup Club of Armenia: The First Meeting of the Jessup Club of Armenia, which was established by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association, was held in Yerevan Hotel on 7 April 2006. Members of the Armenian teams who participated in the Jessup International Rounds of 2001 – 2006, as well as judges, team coaches and AYLA members participated in the meeting. The first meeting of the Jessup Club of Armenia was aimed at forming the Board of the Club. Nelly Harutyunyan and Ara Zohrabyan, judges of the Competition; Yeghishe Kirakosyan and Sargis Knyazyan, members of winner teams of the Armenian rounds of different years; and Hrachya Marangulyan, coach of the winner team of the Armenian Round of 2006 were elected.
The first meeting of the Board of JCA was held on 5 May 2006 in the AYLA Central Office.
On 10 July 2006, a group of the members of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) and the Jessup Club of Armenia (JCA) met with Mr. Vardan Oskanian, Republic of Armenia Minister of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was held in the building of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was aimed at introducing the activities of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association and JCA, and to hear the latest news concerning the RA foreign policy, and in particular the latest developments referring to the developments of Karabakh Conflict regulation, Armenia’s position concerning this issue, and the details of the discussed documents, as well as the possible future developments in the conflict resolution. Mr. Vardan Oskanian was announced an honorary member of the Jessup Club of Armenia and received the certificate.
Major Court Case: On 17 November 2005, a group of employees from four Departments of ArmenTel Company organization of a two-hour preventive strike to protect their violated labor, professional and social rights. After the preventive strike, the employees that had initiated the strike began to be chased. In result the major part of employees mentioned above employees were dismissed from work. The ArmenTel employees who had no legal knowledge, applied to the Armenian Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) with a request to provide them legal support. The AYLA satisfied their request and provided lawyers to protect the rights of the organizers and participants of the preventive strike in the Court of the First Instance of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Community free of charge. The parties also agreed that AYLA would provide free legal, as well as advocatory services to the participants of the strike. AYLA assigned its member and advocate Miss Liana Harutyunyan, a young lawyer with professional background and knowledge as a coordinator of this case. She continues this rather complicated case up till now, with the devotion and kind heartiness. The AYLA lawyers Gevorg Gyozalyan and Arpine Yeghikyan support her in this case as well.
Without waiting to the final verdict of the court “ArmenTel” dismissed the heads of two departments. On 23 November 2005, and on 9 December 2005 ArmenTel terminated the labor contracts of the heads of two departments Andranik Ghukasyan and Armen Abrahamyan respectively. Their violated labor rights were restored by the court decision due to the consistent and devoted work of AYLA. Misak Simonyan, another participant of the preventive strike, was illegally dismissed form the office on 16 October 2006, and on 16 December 2006 with support of AYLA he brought a claim to the court. After negotiations with ArmenTel Management Mr. Simonyan agreed to take back his claim and was restored in his place.
On 18 October 2006 the ArmenTel Employees H.Kharatyan, A.Ghukasyan and A.Abrahamyan who had organized the preventive strike issued a corresponding claim to the Constitutional Court of the RA, with the support of Liana Harutyunyan, the AYLA lawyer. The claim argued validity of Article 73 of the RA Labor Code, which the Cassation Court of the RA had applied. The claim was accepted into the court proceeding by the Constitutional Court of the RA.
ArmenTel employees H who had organized the preventive strike issued a corresponding claim to the European Court of Human Rights, with the support of Liana Harutyunyan, the AYLA lawyer. The Court has received it and assigned the corresponding number to the claim.
On 7 June 2006 “ArmenTel” Company illegally dismissed 12 other employees who had participated in the preventive strike. The employees, supported by Miss Liana Harutyunyan, submitted a claim to the Court of the First Instance of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Community of Yerevan. On 3 August 2006 the court dismissed the claims of all the applicants. Naturally the applicants decided to appeal the decision in the court of appellate jurisdiction, which on 16 November 2006 decided to deny the case of the claim of A.Torosyan, A.Boynagryan, G.Gharagyozayan, A.Afyan, G. Manukyan, V.Minasyan, A.Ghukasyan, K.Levonyan, A.Galoyan, N.Andreasyan, L.Mirzoyan, S.Grigoryan v. ArmenTel CJSC on recognizing the orders of their dismissal invalid, and on rehabilitation of their work places, and payment of their forced outage. The case is still in process and soon the 12 employees will apply to the Court of Cassation with a claim against the 16 November 2006 decision of the RA Court of Appeal.
On 9 November 2006 Harutyun Kharatyan, Head of the Preventive Strike Committee, who is also the Chairperson of “Faith” Trade Union, was illegally dismissed from work by “ArmenTel” Company. On 9 December 2006 Mr. Kharatyan applied to the Court of the First Instance of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Community of Yerevan with a claim to recognize illegal the order of his dismissal.
The Armenian Young Lawyers Association is confident that it will bring the case on the protection of violated labor rights of ArmenTel employees till final victory, and all those who have been dismissed illegally will be restored in their places. In addition the officials and advisors from ArmenTel who had initiated these lawless actions will be punished.
"Youth, Reality, Perspectives" Youth Conference: On 13 – 15 July 2006 the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs in cooperation with the Center for Organization of Youth Affairs organized a Conference "Youth, Reality, Perspectives." Parallel to the Conference the participants also were involved in the working groups, which referred to the youth related issues. The State Youth Report was introduced during the Conference as well. Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the AYLA introduced the legal sphere of the Report. AYLA was awarded a diploma of the Armenian PR Association for professional and substantial information in the exhibition of “Fair of the Ideas.”
International Anti-Corruption Conference: An International Conference on “Strengthening Cooperation between the National Assembly, Civil Society and the Media in the Fight against Corruption” was held in the session hall of the National Assembly of the RA on April 6-7, 2006. The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, the Eurasia Foundation Representative Office in Armenia, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Yerevan Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OCSE) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized the conference jointly. The Conference was aimed at introducing the role of cooperation between the National Assembly and Civil Society in the context of the struggle against corruption. Over 130 representatives of the non-governmental sector as well as about 30 representatives from international organizations, foreign advisors and experts were invited to the Conference. Miss Mary Yeganyan, Public Relations Coordinator of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association, attended the Conference as well.
The General Assembly of CRINGO Network: The General Assembly of the Caucasian Refugee and IDP NGO Network (CRINGO Network) was held on 18-21 April 2006 in Gudauri, Georgia. Miss Gayane Marukhyan, member of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association represented AYLA in this forum, which was aimed at elaborating the ways for raising the level of the Network operations.
Internship Program 2006: The Armenian Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) in cooperation with Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk Foundation has been implementing Internship Program for the Armenian law students of Diaspora for two years already. This year AYLA has hosted two volunteers from Diaspora: Miss Tatevik Grigorian student of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Miss Shogher Margossian, student of Lebanese University of Higher Education. The students have got involved in AYLA life and are supporting AYLA activities with devotion. Miss Lilit Kazarian from Washington University made her internship with AYLA as well.
Republican Scientific Conference for the Law Students “The Republic of Armenia Constitution on the Way of Establishment of the Civil Society”: The oral round of the Republican Scientific Conference for the law students and young lawyers “The Republic of Armenia Constitution on the Way of Establishment of the Civil Society,” which was organized by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association with the support of Center for Public Dialogue and Development, in the framework of the project implemented with funds provided from the Republic of Armenia State Budget was held on 25 October 2006. The Conference was supported by the Law Foundation of Armenia and “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm. Hayk Karapetyan, the first year student of Magistrate of the Law Department of Yerevan State University won the first prize and was announced the “Best Oralist” as well. The work of the Conference was covered by the Armenian mass media.
Third Scientific Conference for the Law Students “Advocacy: Current State and Prospects for its Development in the Republic of Armenia,” which was organized by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association took place on 14 November 2006. Gevorg Martirosyan, a 4th year student of the French University, was recognized “The Best Oralist” and the winner of the Competition.
The Law Foundation of Armenia and “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm sponsored the Conference. "Yerevan" TV Company and newspaper “Aravot” Daily covered the work of the Conference.
AYLA External Evaluation: On 10 through 22 December 2006 Drs. Dorothea van Bakelen, independent evaluator from Netherlands, carried out the external evaluation of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association. During her stay in Armenia Mrs. van Bakelen visited the AYLA offices in Yerevan, as well as in the regions, where she met with the staff, AYLA members, volunteers, heads of the AYLA committees and AYLA Board members. She held interviews with the AYLA stakeholders, representatives of Yerevan and regional state structures, NGOs, judiciary and police structures, mass media and beneficiaries as well. The main issue discussed during the meetings and interviews referred to the existing state of human rights in Armenia and the effect of AYLA’s activities on it. They also discussed the possible input of other interested structures in this process. Mrs. van Bakelen will summarize the results of the discussions and provide the report to the AYLA, which, the organization will use as a basis for the elaboration of its new strategic plan.
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