- 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 to 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 5 (five) regional offices and operates 9 (nine) Advocacy and Assistance Centers and Reception 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 Tavush Marz in Ijevan, AYLA branch office of Gegharkunik Marz in Gavar, and AYLA branch office of Syunik Marz in Kapan.
AACs operated by the AYLA: Advocacy and Assistance Center in Yerevan, Advocacy and Assistance Reception Center of Shirak Marz in Gyumri, Advocacy and Assistance Center of Lori Marz in Vanadzor, Advocacy and Assistance Center of Tavush Marz in Ijevan, Advocacy and Assistance Center of Aragatsotn Marz in Ashtarak (with Reception Centers in Talin and Aparan cities), Advocacy and Assistance Center of Kotayk Marz in Hrazdan, Advocacy and Assistance Reception Center of Ararat Marz in Ararat, Advocacy and Assistance Reception Center of Vayots Dzor Marz in Yeghegnadzor, and Advocacy and Assistance Center of Syunik Marz in Kapan.
The number of AYLA members, its adherents, and volunteers is about 70. The organization has undertaken prompt actions to strengthening of 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, 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; Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity/Casals & Associates, A DynCorp International Company – USAID Contractor; the US Embassy in Armenia; the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Internationale Bijstand, or Oxfam Novib; the Interchurch Organization for Development Co-operation (ICCO) – Holland; “Eurasia” Foundation; Dutch Cordaid Organization; Great Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID); OSCE Armenian Office; European Council; German GTZ organization; 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); Agora Central Europe (Czech Republic); International Institute for the Study of Culture and Education University of Lower Silesia (the Republic of Poland) and others. 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 Judicial 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.
It is due to mention that in 2010, in addition to implementing of 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, AYLA signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in Tavush Marz of the RA with Tavush Regional Administration, administrations of Ijevan, Dilijan, Berd, Noyemberyan, and Ayrum cities, administrations of Bagratashen, Tavush, Haghartsin, Aygehovit villages; in Aragatsotn Marz of the RA with Aragatsotn Regional Administration, administrations of Ashtarak, Aparan and Talin cities; in Ararat Marz with Ararat Regional Administration, administrations of Ararat Masis and Vedi cities; and in Vayots Dzor Marz with Regional Administration of Vayots Dzor, and administrations of Yeghegnadzor, Vayk and Jermuk cities.
- 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 of the population and protection of the legal rights and interest
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 provinces. Further the number of offices grew; AYLA established and operates Advocacy and Assistance Centers (AAC) and Advocacy and Assistance Reception Centers (AARC) as well. 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:
- provide free legal services in the AYLA offices, on the phone, through the hotline and internet (including e-mail), and in the rural communities, including information about laws, regulations or internal procedural documents relevant to their corruption case,
- provide legal representation in court and other entities,
- provide free advocate’s services in court and other entities,
- publish and disseminate of information leaflets referring to different areas of Armenian Legislation,
- broadcast of TV and radio programs on different legal issues,
- organize seminars on different legal issues for the population.
The organization has published over 100 titles of information leaflets on different spheres of the RA legislation, newsletters informing about AAC 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. In particular during the last years AYLA organized 5 (five) competitions on International Law, 7 (seven) republican and 1 (one) regional scientific conferences for the law students, as well as several hundred professional seminars and trainings.
The organization has published the booklet “Jessup Competition in Armenia and Worldwide”, as well as 4 (four) collections of best reports of the scientific conferences.
- Support to the development and reforms of judiciary and in particular of the advocacy institute
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.
The organization has published the collection of best reports of the scientific conference “Advocacy: Challenges and Current State in the Republic of Armenia.”
AYLA has carried out and successfully accomplished the project “Multi-Component Monitoring in the Notaries Offices of the Republic of Armenia.” 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 30 (thirty) observers that were involved in the project realized direct monitoring of the notary offices in the duration of three months in Yerevan and in the RA Marzes, in particular in the notary offices in Gyumri, Kapan cities, and the offices in Tavush and Armavir Marzes. Based on the results of the monitoring the project experts elaborated recommendations on system and procedural legislative reforms that were introduced to corresponding bodies, which responded positively to these recommendations.
Report on Findings of Public Monitoring Implemented in the Frames of Comprehensive Monitoring of Notary Public Offices Project was published based on the results of the conducted monitoring as well.
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. 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 website (www.ayla.am).
Parallel to the mentioned above 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. It is quite possible that the international donor organizations may change their policy or even stop their activities. This may cause financial unpredictability of the organization, 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 percents of the overall annual budget of the organization, which is quite insufficient to insure 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 AYLA’s branches in some regions:
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 branches in Gavar and Ijevan, as well as solving the problem of renovation of the club and educational spaces of the AYLA Central Office in Yerevan shall greatly support to insure the organization’s financial sustainability.
- 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 secures their financial stability. The regional offices should gradually pass to independent self-financing and cooperate with donor organizations in the bounds of the organization’s mission as well as develop self-financing sources.
- Lack of direct connections 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. Organization of mass events, which will insure contacts among the members as well as develop ties, is still insufficient in this aspect.
- 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.
- Highly professional lawyers and advocates, possessing a new and modern methodology.
- Protect human rights.
- Powerful and a strong civil society.
- AYLA’s Strategic Goals, Objectives and Action Plan
Goal 1. Raising the level of legal consciousness of the population, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, advocacy and assistance of the citizens’ rights:
Objective 1.1
Provision of free legal support on corrupt cases, to socially vulnerable people, and to people with limited access to legal support.
Action 1.1.1
Provision of free legal support on corrupt cases, to socially vulnerable people, and to people with limited access to legal support through AACs and AARCs 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 – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, member of the AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AACs and AARCs operated by the AYLA.
Action 1.1.2
Court representation on corrupt cases and in cases of public importance, as well as representation of the rights and legal interests of the refugees and asylum seekers in the courts, state, local and other entities.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, member of the AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AACs and AARCs operated by the AYLA.
Action 1.1.3
Analyze of the information and complaints collected from the citizen that applied to AACs, revealing the problems and corrupt risks and provide legal support to citizens to formulate their civic, administrative or criminal claims and direct them to corresponding state, local and other entities, provide free advocacy services through Yerevan Gyumri, Vanadzor, Ijevan, Ashtarak (with reception centers in Aparan and Talin), Hrazdan, Ararat, Yeghegnadzor and Kapan AACs and AARCs.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – Member of the AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AACs and AARCs operated by the AYLA.
Action 1.1.4
Provide professional assistance and support to small and medium entrepreneurs, aimed at raising the level of their knowledge on the protection of their infringed rights and for realization of reforms in this sphere.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Offices, AACs and AARCs operated by the AYLA.
Action 1.1.5
Quick response to cases on the infringements of human rights and interests, their identification and publicizing.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA Vice-President, AYLA Committee on Legal Support, Human Rights, European Integration and International Cooperation, AYLA Offices, AACs and AARCs operated by the AYLA, quick response group.
Objective 1.2
Development of high legal culture, raising the level of legal awareness 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 and AAC offices, organization and realization of public awareness seminars.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, AYLA Regional Offices, AACs and AARCs.
Action 1.2.2
Publication of success stories on the protection of human rights and struggle against corruption and publicizing these stories in the target geographical areas of the AYLA
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Committee on Legal Support, Human Rights, European Integration and International Cooperation, AYLA Offices, AACs and AARCs.
Action 1.2.3
Creation and operation of Internet Blog, establishing new links with Mass Media.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Offices, AACs and AARCs.
Action 1.2.4
Establishment of Legal Resource Centers in target geographical areas of the AYLA.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Legal Education and Information Committee.
Objective 1.3
Maintenance, strengthening and expansion of Anticorruption Centers.
Action 1.3.1
Fundraising:
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Board, Working Group on fundraising issues.
Action 1.3.2
Promotion of cooperation with State Bodies
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Regional Offices, AACs and AARCs.
Action 1.3.3
Training of personnel, involvement of new personnel.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Board, AYLA Professional Committees.
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 and this shall promote establishment rule of law state in the RA. Small and medium entrepreneurs shall receive expert support and assistance to restore their infringed rights, and aimed at legislative reforms in this sphere.
- High legal culture shall be established, which in its turn will lead to the raise of legal awareness of the RA population.
- Based on the analyses of request and complaints of the citizens that applied to AYLA Offices and AACs the corruption risks and problems shall be revealed. To solve these problems and corruption risks AYLA shall publish and disseminate in the geographical area of its interest the corresponding legal information leaflets.
- AYLA’s quick response group shall immediately respond to the cases of infringement of human rights and corruption cases, which 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 of the young lawyers, advocates and the law students.
Objective 2.1
Realization of educational activities.
Action 2.1.1
Organization of courses, seminars, trainings, conferences and moot court competitions on differed areas of Armenian Law, as well as on the Human Rights and the mechanisms for the protection of Human rights.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Committees, AYLA Offices, AACs and AARCs, LSD, Jessup Club of Armenia.
Action 2.1.2
Publication and dissemination of professional materials, also through network
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Legal Education and Information Committee.
Action 2.1.3
Objective 1.2, Action 1.2.4 of this Strategic Plan, as well as renovation of legal resources in the AYLA Offices and AACs.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Responsible Secretary, AYLA Legal Education and Information Committee.
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 partnership and links.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA Offices, AACs and AARCs, LSD.
Action 2.2.2
Organization of internship for the law students in Advocacy and Assistance Centers.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – Senior Lawyers of Advocacy and Assistance 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.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – Member of the AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, Clubs, LSD and AYLA Regional Offices.
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 organization of Pro Bono activities by the lawyers, as well as organization of other necessary trainings and various cultural and sport events.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – Member of the AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, Clubs, LSD and AYLA Regional Offices.
Action 2.3.3
Purchase of own office spaces for the AYLA Gavar and Ijevan Offices, Repair of the training and club rooms of the AYLA Gyumri, Vanadzor and Kapan Offices.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Regional 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 – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA Responsible Secretary.
Expected results
- The level of the legal knowledge and professional and adjacent skills 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 and the protection of human rights 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 raising efficiency of the AYLA activities and projects.
Goal 3. Reduction of corruption risks and insuring transparency and accountability in bodies providing public services as well as in the bodies implementing justice
Objective 3.1.
Publicizing, strengthening of the citizens, realization of participatory and public monitoring activities (including the relevant legislation) aimed at reduction of corruption risks and insuring transparency and accountability in bodies providing public services as well as in the bodies implementing justice.
Action 3.1.1
Realization of projects of republican, local importance, as well as of projects in definite spheres on publicizing, strengthening of the citizens, as well as participatory and public monitoring activities (including the relevant legislation) in cooperation with partner organizations and experts.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – Member of the AYLA Board, AYLA Committees, Clubs, LSD and AYLA Regional Offices and AACs.
Objective 3.2
Assist to introduction of good governance system in state and local government bodies and struggle against the corruption.
Action 3.2.1
Monitoring of the activities of bodies providing public services, bodies implementing justice, as well as local bodies; introduction and realization of procedural and system level changes.
Period – 2011-2013.
Person responsible – AYLA President, AYLA Committee on Good Governance, Anticorruption and Monitoring Issues, AYLA Regional Offices, AACs and AARCs.
Expected results
- Enhancing the role and authority of the advocacy institute among the population; development of autonomy and independence of the advocates.
- Promotion of transparency of activities of judiciary and law enforcement bodies among the public.
- Raising the level of role and importance of the mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution among the RA public.
- Revealing the gaps and omissions in the RA legislation and realization of reforms (including in judiciary, advocacy, NGO fields and other) through recommendations based on these findings.
- Success stories of the court cases shall promote the citizens’ to follow up the issues of protection of their rights, as well as raise the level of respect towards the 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.
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 AYLA monitoring and evaluation expert, the heads of different implemented projects, persons responsible for the realization of different strategic directions, and the heads of the AYLA regional offices, as well as AACs and AARCs 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 2011-2013, the members of the organization shall carry out the annual self-assessment of AYLA’s activities on all levels and review the 2011-2013Strategic Plan, which shall be published on the AYLA’s website.*
*Note: The AYLA Strategic Plan 2011-2013 was elaborated during the seminar of 27.03.2011 and was adopted by the AYLA Board at the Board Meeting on25.06.2011.