On 26 September, the Corporate Governance Center, the Armenian Lawyers’ Association and the Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a discussion on “The Importance of Collective Business Actions in the Fight against Corruption” within the framework of cooperation of the Center for International Private Enterprise.
During the roundtable the main ways and international practices of joint business activities in the fight against corruption, as well as the possibilities of their application in Armenia were presented. Mr. Frank Brown, Director of the Anti-Corruption & Governance Center of CIPE and Ms Elizabeth Lenz Jedwab, “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project Manager, attended the discussion as well.
Ms Narine Melikyan, President of Corporate Governance, delivered an opening speech at the
event. She outlined the main ways in which businesses can work together to fight corruption.
Mr. Frank Brown, Mr. Frank Brown, Director of the Anti-Corruption & Governance Center of CIPE, delivered a presentation on the international experience of joint anti-corruption activities of business. Mr. Vladimir Amiryan, presented the role of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the fight against corruption.
Ms Mariam Zadoyan, Lawyer/Attorney of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association of (ALA), “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project Coordinator, presented the intermediate results of the ALA in the scope of the project.
She presented the role of the ALA in the fight against corruption and program activities, highlighting a few points: public-private partnerships, SME training and mentoring as well as public awareness.
In the framework of the First Direction, Mariam Zadoyan presented the implemented public-
private partnerships, including: the Government-Civil Society International Expert Conference on the “RA Anti-Corruption Strategy in Light of International Experience” and 4 Roundtable Discussions in Yerevan, Vanadzor, Gavar and Gyumri, as a result of which, the strategy envisaged measures to promote “Adoption of anti-corruption compliance requirements in the business sector” and “Introduction of institute of criminal liability of legal entities for corruption offenses”. In the scope of the SME Training and Mentoring, 75 SMEs in Yerevan, Kapan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Gavar have been trained in anti-corruption compliance, and a model anti-corruption policy is currently being developed by SMEs.
This material has been prepared in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Center for International Private Enterprise”, the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Corporate Governance Center” NGO and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” with financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The project is implemented as a co-financing to the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” action implemented with the financial support of the European Union by a Consortium comprising the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Armenian Center for Democratic Education-CIVITAS” NGO, the “International Center for Human Development” NGO, the “SME Cooperation Association” NGO, the Union of Communities of Armenia, as well as “Agora Central Europe” NGO (Czech Republic). The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the National Endowment for Democracy and the European Union.
