Publication

IN THIS ISSUE:

*** EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE

*** DICTIONARY OF ARMENIAN SIGN LANGUAGE PUBLISHED

*** VETERINARY ASSISTANCE TO VILLAGE COMMUNITIES

*** NGOS MONITOR ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

*** CIVILSOCIETY INITIATIVES IN ROA MARZES

*** Armenia Development Gateway Portal: Implementation Phase Year II

*** WEBSITE OF THE ROA ECONOMIC COURT WAS CREATED

*** GYUMRI YOUTH ISSUES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT


EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE

On January 27, 2005, the Association of Investigative Journalists NGO addressed the issue of street people. Photographs taken by their photojournalist and the Nameless Tombs documentary were presented, showing the everyday life of street people. Yerkir-Media TV Company and Association of Investigative Journalists NGO produced the documentary.  The goal was to draw the attention of the Government, international structures and the public-at-large to the problems faced by street people and beggars and seek support (food and shelter) for them. Results included: financial assistance from the USA, material assistance from Yerevan, and medical assistance, which will be provided to all of the street people in Yerevan, by three physicians from the USA. The action contributed to the ROA Government’s reviewing the draft Law on Social Support. The Law will take force in 2006. However, as stated by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Issues, providing street people with shelter may be realized now in case of relevant financial assistance.

Contact: Edik Baghdasaryan
Association of Investigative Journalists NGO
2 Mashtots Ave., #40
Tel.: 56-31-49
E-mail: info@hetq.am


DICTIONARY OF ARMENIAN SIGN LANGUAGE PUBLISHED

This dictionary has been developed through the efforts of the Kamk and Korov NGO of Young Disabled, with funding support received from OXFAM. The dictionary will play an important role in improving the quality of education for those with hearing impairments. Better application of signs will contribute to the beneficiaries’ easier integration into and communication with society. It will also help educate the public-at-large on these opportunities. Young people with hearing impairments translators for the deaf and dumb, and pedagogues of the deaf and dumb participated in the development of the dictionary. The dictionary is also a training handbook, certified by the National Institute of Education of the ROA Ministry of Education and Science. The dictionary is intended for professors and students of the Defectology Department of the Armenian State Pedagogical University, those employees of special and secondary schools, who interact with children with hearing impairments, their parents and the public-at-large. The Dictionary of Armenian Gesture Language contains 1,118 signs, classified by topics. The signs are presented by photographs and word explanations.

Contact: Mary Pahutyan
Kamk and Korov NGO Of Young Disabled
69 Y. Koghbatsi St.
Tel.: (374-1) 53-85-41, 53-85-23
E-mail: kamkorov@netsys.am 


VETERINARY ASSISTANCE TO VILLAGE COMMUNITIES

On January 31, the Strategic Development Agency NGO presented the findings of its recently completed Basic Veterinary Services Model project. The program goal was to assist farmers of Syunik’s Noravan village community in contributing to the food safety and development of the livestock sector. A local veterinary service center was supplied with the necessary equipment, medicines and a veterinarian.. The center carries out mandatory and ad hoc preventive and medical activities. A revolving drug fund was created enabling the farmers to utilize services of the veterinarian, free of charge. Instead of the planned 30% community participation, 66% involvement was registered. The project results are apparent: improved sanitary and hygiene conditions of cattle-sheds, possible prevention of parasitical diseases (particularly those transferred from animals to people), and more. Based on the gaps revealed during one year of the project implementation and specific needs of the village community, the NGO plans to apply its successful experience in other communities of the republic as well, replenishing the project with a number of new components. The project was financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Contact: Karina Harutiunyan
Strategic Development Agency NGO
29 Khanjyan St., #8
Tel.: (374-1) 54-09-96
E-mail: sda@netsys.am; stradaarm@yahoo.com 


NGOS MONITOR ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

On February 16 and 18, the second sessions of the Protection of Economic Competition (preventing anti-monopoly and conflict of interest) and the Healthcare working groups of the ROA Commission on Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring were held. The first working group unites 17 NGOs and the second 27. Representatives of interested departments and the ROA Ministry of Health participated in the sessions. Draft laws on the Protection of Economic Competition and Healthcare were presented and plans of the NGO working groups for the first half-year of 2005 were discussed. Activities of the working groups include: implementing anti-corruption strategy and monitoring implementation of departmental anti-corruption projects; studying the experiences of international organizations in anti-corruption efforts, developing suggestions to improve the mechanisms used, conducting expert review of legislative drafts, suggesting amendments and submitting those to the Commission on Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring.

Contact: Abgar Yeghoyan: Commission member; Coordinator of the Protection of Economic Competition working group
E-mail: upcr@web.am; abgar@freenet.am

Greta Mirzoyan: Commission member; Coordinator of Healthcare working group
E-mail: armgreta@arminco.com

Marianna Stepanyan: Commission exptert
E-mail: marianna.stepanyan@cascadecapitalholdings.com


CIVIL  SOCIETY INITIATIVES IN ROA MARZES

To raise the level of civic activism of the populations in Shirak and Syunik marzes, the A. D. Sakharov Human Rights Protection Center NGO is implementing the Civil Society Initiatives project, within the framework of which Civil Society School #2 is operating. It will function as an educational, consulting and resource center, increasing the professionalism of representatives of NGOs, mass media, local self-government and regional government bodies in Gyumri and Goris. The school will work towards creating a cooperation network of NGOs and other players of the civil society. Within the framework of the project, an institute of experts will be formed, which will reveal and analyze problems in Armenia and specific marzes. Situation reports and analyses on Shirak and Syunik marzes, as well as methodic handbooks on organizing training of NGOs will be published.

Contact: Seyran Martirossyan
Sakharov Human Rights Protection Center NGO
1 Sarmen St.
Tel.: (374-1) 58-78-64, 54-29-36
E-mail: sakhfd@arminco.com
Website: http://www.sakharovcentre.org


Armenia Development Gateway Portal: Implementation Phase Year II

The Electronic Armenia Foundation NGO (EAF: www.e-armenia.am) is launching the Implementation Phase II of the Armenia Development Gateway Project (AmDG: www.Gateway.am). The major priorities for the first six months of the project implementation are: AmDG portal content (Community Gateways, Knowledge Center, etc.) and functional development, and e-Development initiatives, including DG market: www.dgmarket.com localization (Armenian) and the BIT@E newsletter development (Russian/English). The project goal is to make the portal an effective information resource to contribute to e-Development issues and present Armenia’s potential in using ICT tools. During project implementation, the AmDG team will again connect with its previous partnership network of project stakeholders, including Community representatives presented on the portal (State, Civil Society, International, Business, High-Tech and Diaspora). The project team is open to cooperate with all interested counterparts to enlarge the network and provide its target audiences with a comprehensive view on development opportunities in Armenia.

Contact: Vahand Danielan
Electronic Armenia Foundation NGO
Tel: (374-1) 57-02-60
E-mail: marketing@gateway.am
Website: www.gateway.am


WEBSITE OF THE ROA ECONOMIC COURT WAS CREATED

The web-based information center of the Economic Court of Armenia http://www.economic-court.am/ was created by the Armenian Public Relations Association and Youth for Achievements NGOs with the assistance of the EU European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. The goal of the website is to ensure accessibility of information on management and activities of the judiciary system, particularly of the Economic Court, and enhance the efficiency and quality of the information exchange between society and the Economic Court. The authors of the project hope that this initiative will contribute to increasing public awareness on court functions and raising the legal awareness of the public.

Contact: Anush Begloyan
Armenian Public Relations Association NGO
7 Khorenatsi St.
Tel.: (374-1) 53-79-55
E-mail: info@apra.am


GYUMRI YOUTH ISSUES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

In response to the lack of information available for Gyumri’s youth, the Youth for Peace and Development NGO now publishes the Youth Initiative bi-monthly electronic newsletter. It presents information on events taking place in universities, other educational institutions, cultural structures, NGOs and other spheres. Student journalists collect materials for the newsletter. The newsletter also contains creations by gifted young people of Gyumri. The publication is disseminated to young people throughout the republic. To subscribe to the newsletter send your e-mail address to yfpd@web.am.

It is worth noting that the Youth for Peace and Development NGO has established a permanent commission to deal with youth issues and functions by the Gyumri Avagani (local self-governing body.) Representatives of six interested NGOs, members of Gyumri Avagani and state officials are commission members. It is their responsibility to ensure the civic participation of young people in decision making processes and that the interests of various vulnerable groups of youth are represented in local self-governing bodies. The two most urgent problems being addressed by the commission today are youth employment and providing leisure activities for youth.

Contact: Hovhanness Bayburtyan
Youth For Peace and Development NGO
Gyumri, 4 Gayi St., #4
Tel.: (374-41) 2-38-34
E-mail: yfpd@web.am