- Historical Overview
The Armenian Young Lawyers Association” NGO (AYLA) was founded in 1995 having the aim to join the efforts of the members and supporters of the organization as well as of the new generation of the lawyers to promote the establishment of Armenia as a sovereign, democratic, legal and social state. The organization was founded by a group of the students of the faculty of law of the Yerevan State University and young lawyers. Most of them are still among the members of AYLA and take part in the organization’s activities. During its existence the organization has implemented a great number of different projects and activities, which comply with its mission and has served to tens of thousands beneficiaries.
The organization has paid much attention to the establishment of its regional branches in the provinces. Currently AYLA has an office in Yerevan and 5 (five) regional offices and operates 5 (five) Anti-Corruption Centers.
AYLA Offices: AYLA Central and Yerevan Offices in Yerevan, AYLA branch office of Shirak Marz in Gyumri, AYLA branch office of Lori Marz in Vanadzor, AYLA branch office of Gegharkunik Marz in Gavar, and AYLA branch office of Syunik Marz in Kapan.
Anti-Crruption Centers operated by the AYLA: Yerevan Anti-Corruption Center in Yerevan, Anti-Corruption Center of Shirak Marz in Gyumri, Anti-Corruption Center of Lori marz in Vanadzor, Anti-Corruption Center of Gegharkunik Marz in Gavar, Anti-Corruption Center of Syunik Marz in Kapan.
The number of AYLA members, its adherents, and volunteers is about 70. The organization has undertaken prompt actions towards strengthening its material and technical basis, as well as for the extension of provided services.
Currently the organization’s offices possess modern computers and technical equipment and other information resources, as well as modern legal literature, computer software program of Armenian legislation, Internet and other necessary equipment. The organization has its own office spaces for the Central and Yerevan Offices in Yerevan, as well as the office spaces in Kapan, Gyumri and Vanadzor cities.
AYLA expands its ties with international and foreign organizations from year to year. The organization is member of European Young Bar Association since 1998 and cooperates with its member organizations from different countries. Armenian Young Lawyers Association actively cooperates with the international organizations, which work in Armenia. In particular the organization has cooperated and currently cooperates with international and foreign organizations, in particular with USAID; Activity/Casals & Associates, the Interchurch Organization for Development Co-operation (ICCO) – Holland; the Oxfam Novib; “Eurasia” Foundation; Dutch Cordaid Organization; Great Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID); OSCE Armenian Office; the European Union and the European Council; German GIZ organization; German Fund for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ); Armenian branch of Chemonics International; IFES; PriceWaterHouseCoopers; the Armenian office of American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA CEELI); UNDP; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); the US Embassy in Armenia; Agora Central Europe (Czech Republic); Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic; International Institute for the Study of Culture and Education University of Lower Silesia (the Republic of Poland); Georgian Young Lawyers Association NGO; the Georgian UN Association and other foreign and international organizations. The organization cooperates with local legal organizations as well, such as: The Law Foundation of Armenia; The “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm; the Chamber of Advocates of the RA; as well as with the National Assembly of the RA; the Constitutional court of the RA; the Judical Department of the RA; the Ministry of justice of the RA; The ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the RA, different non-governmental organizations and mass media.
On 3 June 2014 Public Council adjunct to the RA Ministry of Justice was established by the order of the RA Minister of Justice, and AYLA also became involved in it.
It is due to mention that in 2010, with the purpose of implementing its strategic goals and objectives, AYLA actively worked to establish cooperation and links with the state and local government bodies. In particular aimed at establishing practical relations with the local self government, as well as with the state and regional government bodies, as well as for the joint and effective struggle against corruption, AYLA signed 74 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the RA Regional Administrations, Municipalities and Village Administrations.
In the framework of cooperation between the National Network of Anti-Corruption Centers and the RA Prosecutor General`s Office, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the AYLA and the RA Prosecutor General`s Office on 20 June 2011. Highlighting the importance and the urgency of the formation of anti-corruption perception and anti-corruption behavior of the young generation, the AYLA signed a Cooperation agreement with Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences. In the framework of this agreement both the students and the administrative staff took part in the anti-corruption trainings delivered by the AYLA experts. Furthermore, going beyond the acquired successes and based on the considerations for the effective protection of human rights, AYLA and the RA Human Rights Defender established practical relationship, endowing it with legal power with signing a Memorandum of Cooperation on 16 April 2013. On 2 June 2014 the AYLA and the RA Notary Chamber signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at the solution of two issues: implement public monitorings in the RA Notary Offices and raise the trust towards notaries and notary activities among the society through the “Notaries of Armenia” project by the Iravaban.net news website operated by the AYLA.
On 31 January 2014 the USAID made a decision on the early termination of the financing of the the National network of Anti-corruption centers, as a result of which the Anti-Corruption centers of the National Network came together and started to operate the anti-corruption centers on voluntary basis in the framework of “Armenia against Corruption” movement, and these centers are currently located in Yerevan and the RA regions of Shirak, Lori, Gegharkunik and Syunik.
- Brief Analysis of the AYLA’s Activities
AYLA implements its activities on the assumption of its Mission and Strategic Plan. We can indicate three principal directions of AYLA activities:
- Raising the level of legal consciousness and anti-corruption perception of the population, and activities towards the anti-corruption struggle and protection of the rights of people.
The organization has been carrying out activities to achieve this goal since its establishment. AYLA was more actively involved in this sphere in 1999 after the establishment of two regional offices in the marzes. Further the number of offices grew; AYLA establishes and operates Anti-Corruption Centers. AYLA offices are carrying out the fallowing activities aimed at raising the legal consciousness among the population and defending the rights of socially vulnerable layers of the population:
- Free legal services in the AYLA offices and in the rural communities through phone, hotline and internet (including e-mail), including provision of information about laws, regulations or internal procedural documents relevant to their corruption cases,
- Legal representation in court and other entities,
- Free advocate’s services in court and other entities,
- Publication and dissemination of information leaflets referring to different areas of Armenian Legislation,
- Broadcasting of TV and radio programs on different legal issues, including those with anti-corruption nature,
- Organization of seminars and trainings on different legal issues, including anti-corruption issues, for the population.
- 8-hour anti-corruption trainings for 169 senior, chief, principal and junior civil servants and 119 senior, chief, principal and junior community servants in Yerevan and the the 10 RA Regions – Aragatsotn, Shirak, Lori, Kotayk, Tavush, Gegharkunik, Armavir, Ararat, Vayots Dzor, Syunik.
On 16 March 2012 the AYLA established the “Armenia against Corruption” Movement, the mission of which is to build corruption-free Armenia.
To achieve this aim the organization regularly publishes more than 100 titles of information leaflets on various aspects of the RA Legislation, considering also the legislative changes, as well as legal newsletters covering anti-corruption activities and booklets of success stories on the protection of human rights.
- Raising the professional level of young lawyers, advocates and law students
This is one of the organization’s principle goals as well, which AYLA has been implementing since its establishment. The organization began to work more actively in this sphere since 1999 when it established the Legal Training and Information Centers in its Central Office and later in the regional offices as well. These centers include modern legal libraries, RA legislative computer software program, Internet connection, computers, as well as modern technical equipment. The above-mentioned resources are provided to the beneficiaries; the young lawyers, attorneys and the law students. In addition AYLA organizes professional trainings, seminars, discussions, scientific conferences, competitions and other events as well. The centers also provide training on related skills. In particular, since 2000 the AYLA and the International Law Students` Association (ILSA) have been organizing the Ph. Jessup International Moot Court Competition, where the winning team represents Armenia in the international round of the Competition in Washington. Since 2013 the AYLA coordinates the European Human Rights Moot Court Competition which is organized by the European Law Students` Association (ELSA) jointly with the Council of Europe. The selected teams gain the right to participate in the oral round in Strasbourg. It is worth mentioning that up to this moment the AYLA has organized 10 annual scientific conferences on the development of the advocates` institute, 3 scientific anti-corruption conferences, as well as republican conferences on the role and importance of the European Court of Human Rights rulings, and 1 regional professional scientific conference on anti-corruption matters, several hundreds of professional seminars and trainings.
The organization has published the booklet “Jessup Competition in Armenia and Worldwide”, as well as collections of best reports of the scientific conferences.
In 2013 the AYLA and its partner German Fund for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) jointly organized the first Summer School on European Law for law students and young lawyers and advocates.
- Support to the development and reforms of judiciary, the improvement of the bodies providing public services and of the public sector.
AYLA has actively assisted and currently assist to judiciary reforms in the RA, and in particular to the reforms on the advocacy sphere. The Association has organized a number of seminars and discussions including seminars on the reforms in advocacy sphere. The AYLA continues organizing the traditional annual republican scientific conference on advocacy, as well as scientific conference on “The Role and Importance of the Rulings of the European Court of Human Rights”.
The best reports of the scientific conference have been published in separate booklets.
AYLA has been successfully carrying out public monitoring of the RA Notaries Offices and the Civil Status Acts Registry regional offices since 2009. The second round of the public monitoring in the RA Notary Offices was launched in 2013 in the scope of the Project “Ensuring public monitoring and transparency”. And on 2 June 2014 the Report on the results of the public monitoring conducted in the RA Notary offices was presented. The organization conducted a survey among citizens using notaries’ services, identified the problems that should be examined, elaborated and tested the questionnaire for the interviews that should be used during the monitoring process. Further 19 (nineteen) observers conducted direct monitoring of the notary offices in the duration of three months in Yerevan and in the RA Marzes. Based on the results of the monitoring recommendations on system and procedural legislative reforms in the spheres of the Civil Status Acts Registry and the Notary Offices were elaborated and introduced to corresponding bodies, and a number of those have already got a legislative reservation.
The organization has carried out sound activities aimed at the formation of NGO sector in Armenia. It was involved in the establishment of the legal environment regulating the activities of non-governmental organizations, as well as in its further development and improvement. Moreover, sound activities are currently undertaken towards the institutional development of Non-governmental organizations, anti-corruption trainings are organized for the CSOs and Media organizations of Yerevan and RA regions, the main aim of which is to increase their role in the promotion and implementation of anti-corruption reforms, strengthen their monitoring and public watchdog capacities to better perceive the corruption and freedom of information issues. The organization shall continue carrying out these activities in future as well.
One of the strong aspects of AYLA is its internal institutional development, which is realized in the following ways and methods:
- Realization of the self-assessment of the organization’s activities annually using the internal human resources of AYLA.
- Elaboration and realization of the organization’s one year development plan based on the self-assessment.
- Realization of the annual external audit on the financial activities of the organization.
- Computerized accounting system.
- Publication and dissemination of the AYLA Annual Reports.
- Considerable renovation of the AYLA technical and information resources.
- Operation of the organization’s renewed bilingual website (www.ayla.am).
- Operation of news website www.iravaban.net.
- Operation of the www.aac.am website of the Movement “Armenia against Corruption” established by the AYLA.
Parallel to the above-mentioned strong aspects the organization has the following weak aspects as well:
- Financial unpredictability and shortage of self-financing means.
At present the major part of the organization’s budget is formed by means of grants received from international and foreign organizations. Taking into consideration the AYLA`s experience when the USAID made a decision on early termination of the “Armenia against Corruption” project, this could have caused financial unpredictability, as its self-financing sources are still insufficient to secure the organizations activities. Currently the organization has two sources of revenue: the membership dues and the income from its commercial organization.
The membership dues make about 1 or 2 percent of the overall annual budget of the organization, which is quite insufficient to ensure the organization’s activities. Income from the limited liability company where AYLA is a shareholder is approximately the same as the income from membership dues.
- Lack of the own office space of one of AYLA’s regional branches:
The existence of own office space reduces the expenses and is rather essential from the financial and sustainability aspects of the organization. Although the organization has obtained 4 (four) own office spaces in Yerevan, Kapan, Gyumri, and Vanadzor, yet the issue of purchasing own office spaces for its regional branch in Gavar, is essential. It is worth mentioning in this regard that during the past two years the AYLA Central Office in Yerevan and the club and educational spaces were renovated and reequipped, which has greatly contributed to the financial stability of the Organization.
- The dependence of AYLA’s regional offices from the Central Office
The regional offices of the organization are still unable to gain financial means that are necessary to organize the uninterrupted activities independently. This is the reason of their dependence form the Central Office, which results in their financial instability. The regional offices should gradually pass to independent self-financing and cooperate with donor organizations in the bounds of the organization’s Charter and mission as well as develop self-financing sources.
- Lack of direct connections and communication between AYLA members:
It is necessary to develop more active relations between AYLA members parallel with the growth of the organization’s membership and especially pay more attention to the development of the relationship between the members of the regional branches.
- Future Vision
The Armenian Young Lawyers Association is one of the most influential, well-known, powerful and useful organizations in the legal field of Armenia.
- Mission
Mission of Armenian Young Lawyers Association is:
To develop a new generation of highly professional lawyers, having a modern outlook and moral values, as well as to promote the establishment of rule of law, and formation of the legal culture in the society.
- Values
The values of the organization are:
- Modern legal culture based upon the heritage of centuries old Armenian values.
- Legally educated society, which is aware of its rights.
- Protected human rights.
- Highly professional lawyers and advocates, possessing a new and modern methodology.
- Powerful and a strong civil society.
- AYLA’s Strategic Goals, Objectives and Action Plan
Goal 1. Raising the level of legal consciousness and anti-corruption perception of the population, effective fight against corruption and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Objective 1.1
Provision of free legal support on corruption cases, to socially vulnerable people, and to people with limited access to legal support.
Action 1.1.1
Provision of free legal support on corruption cases, to socially vulnerable people, and to people with limited access to legal support through Anti-Corruption Centers operated by the AYLA, as well as through the AYLA offices in-house, on the phone, internet, toll free hotline number, as well as through the site and community visits.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 1.1.2
Court representation on corruption cases and in cases of public importance, as well as advocates` services to people with limited access to legal support in the courts, state, local and other entities.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, member of the AYLA Board, AYLA regional offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 1.1.3
Analysis of the information and complaints collected from the citizens that applied to Anti-Corruption Centers, revealing the problems and corruption risks and directing them to corresponding state, local and other entities
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – Member of the AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 1.1.4
Rapid response to the corruption cases, infringements of human rights and interests protection, systemization and publicizing thereof through the news website of AYLA – Iravaban.net, the official website of AYLA – www.ayla.am, website of the “Armenia against Corruption” movement – www.aac.am, press releases and statements.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Vice-President, AYLA Committee on Human Rights, Legal Assistance, European Integration and International Cooperation, AYLA Committee on Good Governance, Anti-Corruption and Monitoring Issues, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Objective 1.2
Development of high legal culture and anti-corruption behaviour, raising the level of legal awareness and anti-corruption perception of the population.
Action 1.2.1
Dissemination of legal information by all accessible means including, Publication and dissemination of legal information bulletins based on the statistic analysis of the requests, complaints and corruption risks introduced by the individuals, which applied for the assistance to AYLA offices and Anti-Corruption Centers, organization and realization of public awareness seminars. Dissemination of legal awareness notices in publicly accessible formulation through the news website Iravaban.net.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers, Editorial staff of Iravaban.net.
Action 1.2.2
Publication of success stories on the protection of human rights and struggle against corruption through the news website of AYLA – Iravaban.net, the official website of AYLA – www.ayla.am, website of the “Armenia against Corruption” movement – www.aac.am, press releases and statements.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Committee on Legal Support, Human Rights, European Integration and International Cooperation, AYLA Committee on Good Governance, Anti-Corruption and Monitoring Issues, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 1.2.3
Development and strengthening of the AYLA`s news website Iravaban.net, dissemination of legal awareness notices through the website, preparation and dissemination of “Informed Citizen”, “Legal Week”, “Court Cases” and other projects, deepening of links with mass media.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Responsible Secretary, Editorial staff of Iravaban.net, AYLA members.
Objective 1.3
Identification and implementation of systemic and procedural anti-corruption reforms
Action 1.3.1
Based on the international documents on the anti-corruption struggle ratified by the RA and the urgency of the implementation of their provisions, undertaking measures towards the establishment of Independent anti-corruption body, illicit enrichment criminalization, legal incorporation of the protection and promotion of whistleblowers, including through the support of Iravaban.net.
Period – 2014-2016
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Staff, AYLA Expert on Reform Issues.
Action 1.3.2
Membership and/or participation in the activities of professional committees, councils and other bodies.
Period – 2014-2016
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers, AYLA Staff.
Objective 1.4
Consolidation and development of Anticorruption Centers.
Action 1.4.1
Promotion of cooperation with State Bodies
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 1.4.2
Training of personnel, involvement of new members.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Board, AYLA Committee on Legal Education and Information.
Expected results:
- Citizens that suffered from corruption, as well as socially vulnerable layers of the RA population and people with limited access to legal services, including refugees and asylum seekers shall gain opportunity to receive qualified and free legal services, which will protect the beneficiaries’ rights as well as solve the problems, which they raised, effective and operating anti-corruption mechanisms will be developed, and this shall promote the establishment of the rule of law in the RA.
- High legal culture and anti-corruption behavior shall be established, which in its turn will lead to the raise of legal awareness and anti-corruption perception of the RA population.
- Based on the analyses of request and complaints of the citizens that applied to AYLA Offices and Anti-Corruption Centers the corruption risks and problems shall be revealed. To solve these problems and corruption risks AYLA shall publish and disseminate corresponding legal information.
- The cases of infringement of human rights and corruption cases shall get a rapid response by the AYLA, Iravaban.net and the anti-corruption movement, the cases shall be classified and become available to all interested parties.
- Based on the study and analysis of the visitors’ requests and complaints AYLA will elaborate and apply new methods of providing services, which will assist in permanent improvement of the level of free legal services provided by the organization as well as expand its geography and include the remote rural communities that have limited access to legal support.
Goal 2. Development of professional skills and raised anti-corruption awareness of the young lawyers, advocates and the law students
Objective 2.1
Realization of educational activities.
Action 2.1.1
Organization of Summer School on European Law.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Committee on Legal Education and Information, AYLA Committee on Legal Support, Human Rights, European Integration and International Cooperation.
Action 2.1.2
Anti-Corruption Summer School, also South-Caucasus Regional Summer School jointly with the AYLA`s partner GYLA.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Committee on Legal Education and Information, AYLA Committee on Good Governance, Anti-Corruption and Monitoring Issues
Action 2.1.3
Organization of trainings, seminars, scientific conferences and competitions on various aspects of the RA Legislation, the International law, European Law, procedures and complaint-composing skills to apply to the European Court of Human Rights, on human rights and the mechanisms of their protection.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers, Jessup Club in Armenia
Action 2.1.4
Online dissemination of professional materials, including through the website Iravaban.net.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Committee on Legal Education and Information.
Objective 2.2
Strengthening of cooperation with the educational establishments and stirring the LSD activities
Action 2.2.1
Strengthening cooperation with educational establishments through establishment of new partnerships and links.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Offices, LSD, AYLA Committees, AYLA members
Action 2.2.2
Organization of internship for law students in the AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – Senior Lawyers of AYLA Offices and AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Objective 2.3
AYLA organizational and institutional development
Action 2.3.1
Realization of activities and events, including organization of exchange of experience and trainings, which are foreseen in annual plans of the AYLA Committees, Clubs, Law Students’ Division and AYLA Regional Offices and Anti-Corruption Centers.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – Member of the AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AYLA Clubs, LSD, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 2.3.2
Organization of activities aimed at the development of adjacent skills and abilities of the members of AYLA professional committees, clubs and the law student’s division, organization of trainings of English language, computer skills, on the peculiarities of provision of legal aid services to the socially vulnerable citizens, on quick response to the occurrences of violation of the human rights, on norms of professional ethics, public correspondence, on organization of Pro Bono activities by the lawyers, as well as organization of other necessary trainings and various cultural and sport events.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AYLA Clubs, LSD and AYLA Offices.
Action 2.3.3
Purchase of own office spaces for the AYLA Gavar Office, Reconstruction of the training and club rooms of the AYLA Gyumri and Kapan Offices.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Board, AYLA Offices.
Action 2.3.4
Development of the AYLA six infrastructures (Leadership, Management, Human Resources, Projects and Services, Financial Sustainability, External Relations) in compliance with the annual development plan.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Board, AYLA Responsible Secretary.
Expected results
- The level of the professional and adjacent skills and capacities of the new generation of young lawyers shall rise.
- The abilities and impact of the AYLA professional committees, clubs and the Law Students’ Division shall increase in the spheres of realization of judicial and legal reforms, the protection of human rights and the anti-corruption struggle in the RA.
- Enhanced necessary resource base of the AYLA for its professional and ongoing activities.
- Development of the AYLA infrastructures, which will lead to AYLA strengthening and raised efficiency of the AYLA activities and projects.
Goal 3. Ensuring the insertion of the principles of integrity in bodies providing public services
Objective 3.1.
Strengthening of the citizens aimed at ensuring effective governance of the activities of the bodies providing public services, realization of participatory and public monitoring activities.
Action 3.1.1
Strengthening of citizens, implementation and publicizing of participatory public monitoring activities through the realization of projects of republican, local and sectoral importance in cooperation with partner organizations and experts.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 3.1.2
Implementation of monitoring and journalistic investigations on various aspects of the 2012-2016 RA Draft Strategy of Legal and Judicial Reforms, RA Government Program of 2014, the RA Anti-Corruption Strategy.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Staff, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers, Iravaban.net.
Action 3.1.3
Support to the implementation of AYLA reforms through the activities of Iravaban.net, various projects – “Legal Week”, “Research and analyses”.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA Staff, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers, Iravaban.net.
Objective 3.2
Assist to the introduction of good governance system in state and local government bodies.
Action 3.2.1
Monitoring of the activities of bodies providing public services, identification and realization of respective procedural and systemic reforms.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Committee on Good Governance, Anticorruption and Monitoring Issues, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 3.2.2
Strengthening of integrity capacities of public servants, including community and civil servants in the fields of RA state governance, local self-governance and public services, implementation of anti-corruption trainings.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Committee on Good Governance, Anticorruption and Monitoring Issues, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Objective 3.3
Assist to the capacity development of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Mass Media in carrying out anti-corruption monitoring and journalistic investigations.
Action 3.3.1
Anti-Corruption trainings, as well as trainings on monitoring and journalistic investigations for the CSOs and Mass Media operating in Yerevan and RA regions.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Committee on Good Governance, Anticorruption and Monitoring Issues, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers.
Action 3.3.2
Provision of small sub-grants to the CSOs and Media organizations in Yerevan and RA regions for the projects on implementing anti-corruption monitoring and journalistic investigations.
Period – 2014-2016.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Committee on Good Governance, Anticorruption and Monitoring Issues, AYLA Offices, AYLA Anti-Corruption Centers, AYLA fundraiser.
Expected results
- The authority of and trust towards the state governance, local self-governance bodies and bodies providing public services shall rise among the public.
- Increase in the quality of activities by the state governance, local self-governance bodies and bodies providing public services among the public, introduction of good governance principles.
- Promotion of transparency of activities state governance, local self-governance bodies and bodies providing public services of judiciary and law enforcement bodies among the public.
- Revealing gaps in the RA Legislation and implementation of reforms of the Legislation (including the legal-judicial system, advocacy, NGO field, etc.) through recommendations based on these findings.
- Strengthening of integrity capacities of public servants, including community and civil servants in the spheres of RA state governance, local self-governance and public services.
- Development of capacities of the CSOs and Media organizations of Yerevan and RA regions in carrying out anti-corruption monitoring and journalistic investigations.
- The above-mentioned activities will promote the follow up of protection of rights by the citizens themselves, as well as will raise the authority of AYLA among the public.
- Expectations
Armenia is a member of the European Council, juridical reforms are on the way in the country, and the civil society is in the establishment stage.
AYLA is one of the most recognized professional NGOs of Armenia; the population trusts in AYLA.
The competent state bodies assist in realization of AYLA’s activities. Currently AYLA cooperates with Eastern Partnership Project of the European Union and actively cooperates with the Member-States of the Eastern Partnership in the scope of that project.
International donors as well as the partner organizations are interested to cooperate with AYLA.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
AYLA’s Executive Director, in close cooperation with the the heads of different implemented projects by AYLA, persons responsible for the realization of different strategic directions, and the heads of the AYLA regional offices, as well as Anti-Corruption Centers shall realize the overall monitoring of the implementation of the goals and objectives discussed in this strategic plan based on the action plan, work plan as well as on the analysis of the implemented projects.
In order to reveal the strong and the weak aspects of AYLA’s Strategic Plan for the period of 2014-2016, the members of the organization shall carry out the annual self-assessment of AYLA’s activities on all levels and review the 2014-2016 Strategic Plan, which shall be published on the AYLA’s website*.
*Note: The AYLA Strategic Plan 2014-2016 was elaborated during the seminar of 07.06.2014 and was adopted by the AYLA Board at the Board Meeting on 06.08.2014.