ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ARMENIAN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION FOR 2008
CONTENT
- ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARMENIAN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
- INTRODUCTION
- MISSION AND VALUES
- AYLA TEAM
- COOPERATION
- AYLA PROJECTS AND IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES
- STATISTICS OF IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES
- AYLA ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
- AYLA BOARD
- CONTACTS
- ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARMENIAN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
Dear Friends and Associates,
We have the pleasure to introduce to your attention the Annual Report on the activities of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association for 2008. This is a brief introduction of the organization, its current activities, projects and financial reports. The AYLA Annual Report is the evidence of the fact that the organization attaches importance and strives to ensure the transparency of its activities and reporting.
The year 2008 was rather creative for the AYLA. The organization continued providing free legal aid services to the population of the Republic of Armenia through the network of its offices. Considerable activities were realized with respect to dissemination of accessible information on the citizens’ rights among the population.
The Association organized a number of training courses aimed to enhance the professional knowledge of the young lawyers, as well as the traditional scientific conference on advocacy for the law students, published, and disseminated the monthly Legal Newsletter, which is already popular among the readers. This year AYLA carried out considerable activities aimed at raising the role and importance of the Jessup Competition in Armenia. In this respect, the organization established new partnership relations with a number of similar foriegn organizations.
AYLA held its General Assembly in 2008, which elected the Governing Body and the Board of the organization for the coming two years, who undertook their responsibilities and will work to ensure the further activities of the organization and promote its consistent development.
I would like to express my gratitude to all the AYLA members and staff, our supporters and colleagues, as well as media representatives and the AYLA beneficiaries for their support and assistance. Our joint efforts are a passport to success for realization of the AYLA mission and goals, raising the efficiency of the organization’s activities, and eventually to realization of irrevocable reforms in the legal field of the Republic of Armenia.
I am sure we still have a lot of work to do, and the Armenian Young Lawyers Association will continue carrying on its activities with new inspiration, and with the help of its supporters will continue its unbiased work to promote the protection of human rights, establishment of rule of law, and the formation of the legal state in the Republic of Armenia.
Respects
Karen Zadoyan,
Advocate,
President of Armenian Young Lawyers Association
- INTRODUCTION
The Armenian Young Lawyers Association, which is already an established, sustainable and powerful structure that has its creditable role in the public life of Armenia, has a fourteen years history. The Association was established in 1995 in Yerevan. Since its establishment, the organization determined its mission and established rather pretentious goals and objectives, and started to work in the legal and public fields of the Republic of Armenia having the aim to protect the rights of the population, development of the young lawyers, and establishment of democracy. Soon AYLA established partnership relations with a number of state, non-governmental, international, and foreign organizations, and started implementation of various projects derived from its strategic directions. In some years, the organization’s services were accessible nearly all over the republic due to the network of the AYLA offices, which operate in the Republic of Armenia Marzes
Protection of human rights and raising legal awareness among the population, as well as supporting the establishment of the advocacy institute in Armenia, support to judiciary and legal reforms, development of the new generation of young lawyers, and establishment of civil society, are the main goals of AYLA’s activities.
Currently AYLA possesses a network of six offices, which operate in marzes of Armenia and make accessible the organization’s services for the population of the regions as well. In 2003, having the aim to raise the efficiency of the projects directed to the development of law students, as well as to expand their involvement in AYLA activities and to raise the level of their legal consciousness, AYLA established its Law Students’ Division (LSD). The activities of LSD are aimed to facilitate introduction of the international legal experience and improvement of the quality and efficiency of the legal education in the law schools and law departments of the other institutes in the Republic of Armenia. AYLA possesses a rich legal library, and its services are available for young lawyers, as well as all interested individuals in Yerevan and in marzes. AYLA has elaborated and launched a bilingual official website www.ayla.am to disseminate information on the organization and to ensure the transparency of its activities.
III. AYLA MISSION AND VALUES
The 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.
The values, which the Armenian Young Lawyers Association has adopted since its establishment, 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 TEAM
Success of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association is explained with high professionalism of its core team, and knowledgeable and flexible young lawyers, advocates, and other specialists who share the mission and values of the organization. They continuously and with great devotion carry out activities, bring new breath to the structure and step forward with new undertakings and professionalism for the achievement of the Organization’s Mission. The AYLA team consistently works towards the development of its professional qualities and skills to be in conformity with the demands of the modern world. The team realizes the importance of the ideology and values of the structure and always relies on them during their work.
- COOPERATION
AYLA has established partner relations with over fifty non-governmental, as well as with more than a dozen of international and foreign organizations. The Association cooperates with different state bodies, the RA Government, the National Assembly, the staff of the President of the Republic of Armenia, as well as with the institutes of judiciary system and other structures.
The Interchurch Organization for Development Co-operation (ICCO) was founded in 1964 having the aim of poverty alleviation and elimination of injustice all over the world. ICCO supports programs, which stimulate and enable people, in their own way, to organize dignified housing and living conditions. AYLA has established cooperation with ICCO since 2005.
The Embassy of the United States of America in Armenia was founded in 1992. The Embassy realizes assistance programs that are aimed at the development of an open and pluralistic civil society, a functioning market economy, and a stable political environment in the region. The U.S. Embassy is responsible for maintaining day-to-day relations between the U.S. and Armenian governments, and for providing consular services to citizens.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal government agency that conducts the US foreign assistance and humanitarian aid programs worldwide. In cooperation with local private and non-governmental organizations, USAID reveals the needs and elaborates strategies aimed at providing support for these countries. USAID/Armenia program is carried out through contracts with the US private sector and volunteer organizations, as well as through grants in the spheres provided by the USAID Mission in Armenia. The vision for USAID’s Mission to Armenia is collaborating with Armenian partners to achieve a more equitably prosperous, democratic, and stable country, which will provide corresponding possibilities to its citizens.
Casals & Associates, Inc. (Casals) is an international development and strategic communications firm delivering groundbreaking solutions to social, institutional and political challenges, and works globally addressing democracy and governance, rule of law and justice, conflict management and recovery, health and other urgent issues facing societies.
The Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity is a component of the U.S. development assistance program to the Republic of Armenia, aimed at reducing corruption in Armenia by the following means: providing Armenians with opportunities that would enable them to help combat corrupt practices that they encounter; changing social attitudes and behavior among youth and adults to help them become attuned to the consequences of corruption and more likely to oppose or confront corruption; and enabling systems-level changes to prevent or reduce corruption.
The “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm was established in 1997 with the aim of providing quality legal services to its clients and becoming a leading firm in the legal market. The Firm has been developed dynamically since its inception and it now meets the demanding legal requirements of top domestic and international commercial firms. “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm is now a pioneering law firm in Armenia, providing accessible and highly qualified legal services to individuals and business entities. The Law Firm has a network of offices, which operate nationwide and provides access to its services in the RA provinces as well. “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm is a company providing comprehensive legal services to private individuals as well as businessmen. It works with major multinational corporations and financial institutions, as well as with a broad range of clients including the family and private businesses.
The Law Foundation of Armenia was founded in 2003. The main goals of the Foundation are to assist to the implementation of legal and judicial reforms in the Republic of Armenia, assist to the establishment and development of the advocacy institute in the republic, as well as to improve the professional skills and raise the role of advocates. It also supports to the establishment of the law schools and the law faculties of other institutes of RA, and promotes to the improvement of the quality and efficacy of legal education in the law schools and the law faculties of other institutes.
The Armenian Bar Association was formed in 1989 in the US to provide an arena for lawyers of Armenian heritage and other interested individuals to come together socially and professionally and to address the legal concerns of the Armenian community. With the creation of an independent Republic of Armenia, the Association undertook the task of helping to build and encourage the growth of democratic institutions in Armenia. Professional growth and community advancement are the main goals of the organization. The Association is committed to serve the profession of law, the interests of its members, and the rights of its constituents.
The International Law Students Association (ILSA) is a non-profit association of students and young lawyers dedicated to the study and promotion of international law. The Association joins the resources of all law schools and strives to make them accessible for all member organizations. Its history is closely linked with its flagship activity, the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Since its creation, ILSA has been an important influence in ensuring that future generations of law students learn the significance of international law. Currently through its programs and support, ILSA provides essential educational resources to future generations of lawyers and other international professionals worldwide, which will contribute to the development of world order and international law.
The European Young Bar Association (EYBA) is a non-profit making, multinational young lawyers association founded on 23 May 1993 in Prague. The group now represents the interests of over 200,000 young lawyers and is the world’s largest young lawyers group. EYBA was established to encourage links between and to promote the interests and welfare of young lawyers throughout geographical Europe. AYLA joined The European Young Bar Association in 1998.
AYLA constantly consolidates its links with the partners, and strives to establish and promotes the establishment of new cooperation between AYLA and other organizations. The AYLA external relations are one of the assets of the structure. AYLA enjoys confidence among the partner organizations and this is a guarantee for consolidation of the links and establishment of new relationships.
AYLA attaches much importance and appreciates cooperation with Mass Media, which is indispensable for ensuring the efficiency and transparency of the organizations’ activities, as well as informing the beneficiaries. The Armenian Mass Media impartially covers all the events organized by AYLA.
- AYLA PROJECTS AND REALIZED ACTIVITIES
Supporting Legal Aid and Information: AYLA started project implementation in July 2007 and completed in in July 2008. The project was aimed at providing free legal and information services and free legal aid to the socially vulnerable layers of the population, as well as to people with limited access to these services. It also provided free legal and information resources to the lawyers, law students and people that were interested in law. In particular legislative initiative was carried out in the scope of the project through the study of the legal sphere of gender equality issues, as well as recommendations and discussions, designing draft changes of laws and lobbying. The project included organization of scientific conferences on the urgent issues of judiciary and advocacy spheres, as well as further publication of the specialized monthly Legal Newsletter. Activities aimed at the capacity development of the AYLA were carried out in the framework of the project as well..
The 2008 Philip 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 Armenian Round of the 2008 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. The winner of the Armenian National Round the students’ team of the law department of Yerevan State University took part in the International Round of the 2007 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition on 6 – 12 April 2008 in Washington, US. The Armenian team was the 90th among 110 teams from different countries of the world. The Memorial of the Armenian team was the 87th 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 Law Foundation of Armenia, the Armenian Young Lawyers Association and “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm were co-organizers of the competition in 2008. The US Embassy in Armenia provided financial support for the competition. The Judicial Department of the Republic of Armenia supported the competition as well.
Aimed at popularization of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Armenia the coordinator of the Jessup Club of Armenia held meetings with the students of different law schools and law departments of the other institutes in Yerevan and in the Provinces of the RA. The JCA coordinator introduced information about the Competition, its history worldwide and in Armenia, as well as the order of participation of the Armenian teams. The law students received the booklet “Jessup Competition in Armenian and Worldwide” as well as the JCA Newsletters. The meetings provided opportunity to raise the problems, which hinder to the participation of the law students in the competition.
Participation in Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia Program: On 27 September 2008, the AYLA President was elected member of Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia SNCO Stakeholders’ Committee. In addition he was elected MCA-Armenia Governing Council as well. Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia (MCA-Armenia), a State Non Commercial Organization established by the Government of Armenia, is responsible for overseeing the transparent implementation of the Compact signed between the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Armenia. MCA-Armenia Stakeholders’ Committee is a consultative body and is called to ensure wide civil society participation at different stages of the Program implementation. Through the MCA-Armenia Stakeholders’ Committee society gets an opportunity to receive information on the MCA-Armenia Program and its implementation as well as ensures true participatory process.
“Advocacy and Assistance Center in Ijevan City of Tavush Marz:” AYLA started implementation of this project since 1 October 2008, by establishing an Advocacy and Assistance Center in Ijevan City of Tavush Marz. The AAC lawyers and advocates provide free legal services to the citizens based on their complaints referring to corruption occurrences. In particular provide citizens with opportunity for reporting corruption and directing complaints to Governmental and Local Self-Governmental agencies, provide free legal counsel to support their claims against the governmental and local self-governmental agencies and intensify public focus on how the agencies, which execute justice handle corruption cases, identify corrupt activities in Governmental and local self-governmental institutions, implement procedural and systems-level changes of legislation, which contain corruption risks, based upon analysis of the complaints submitted to the AAC
Fifth Scientific Conference for the law students “Advocacy: Current State and Prospects for its Development in the Republic of Armenia” for the law students which was organized jointly by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association, The Law Foundation of Armenia and “Legal Alliance” Law Firm took place in Golden Tulip Yerevan Hotel on 27 November 2008. Fifty students from the law schools of Yerevan, as well as from the regions had applied for participation in the conference. 22 applicants introduced their reports in time. In compliance with the official rules of the conference, the authors of the best 10 reports were authorized to take part in the final, oral round. Nane Sahakyan, 2nd year student from the law department of Yerevan State University was recognized “The Best Oralist.” Anna Avagyan, 2nd year student from the law department of Yerevan State University, was recognized the third. Lilit Ginosyan, student of the French University of Armenia won the second prize. Mari Davtyan, 4th year student from “Gitelik” University of Yeghegnadzor became the special prize holder, which was foreseen by Mr. Karen Zadoyan, the AYLA President. David Gharibyan, 5th year student from the law department of Police Academy, was recognized “The Best Oralist” and the winner of the Competition. The winners received valuable prizes and corresponding certificates. Participants of the written round of the Conference received participation certificates as well. The Oral Round of the Conference was widely covered by mass media.
Conference on Rule of Law: “Justice and Rule of Law in the South Caucasus – Achievements and Challenges for the Judicial Professions,” organized by the Council of Europe within the framework of the Swedish Chairmanship to the Committee of Ministers and in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia took place on 19 – 20 November in Tbilisi. Advocate Miss Arpine Yeghikyan, Board Member of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association participated in the conference as well. The conference was aimed at introducing the challenges facing the implementation of judicial reforms in the three states of the South Caucasus: Armenia Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as to discuss the main components of the justice system and assist to the establishment of the rule of law.
At the end, the Conclusions of the Conference were elaborated. In compliance with the Conclusions of the Conference, the guaranteed protection of universal human rights and freedoms may be achieved only when the principle of the rule of law is ensured. In addition, the keystone for the solution of this problem is the independent and unbiased judiciary system, which enjoys the public confidence.
The 3rd Anticorruption Conference took place: On 9 December 2008, the USAID MAAC Activity and the USAID Anticorruption Program organized the 3rd Anticorruption Conference, which was dedicated to the International Anticorruption Day. The Conference had four sessions, which were focused on the following evaluation and anticorruption mechanisms that were implemented on the initiative of USAID MAAC Activity and the USAID Anticorruption Program: Study of the corruption in the RA economies; Analyses of the existing caps between the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the Republic of Armenia Legal and Institutional spheres; the RA Strategic Anticorruption Program; and Advocacy and Assistance Centers. The session “Advocacy and Assistance Centers” referred to five newly opened advocacy and assistance centers in Yerevan, Ijevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Kapan cities as the mechanisms fro responding the citizens’ complaints. Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association, presented information on Ijevan AAC.
Activities of the AYLA Cultural Club: On 13 February 2008 the Armenian Young Lawyers Association hosted Ara Gevorgyan, composer and arranger. AYLA members and law students attended the meeting, which was held in the AYLA Central Office in Yerevan. The guest spoke about the art of music, as well as about his work and future plans. He also mentioned and emphasized the input, which the youth can provide for the development of culture.
The meeting was held in a rather vivid, interesting and friendly atmosphere. Ara Gevorgyan answered to all the questions of concern of the youth.
VII. STATISTICS OF IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES
In 2008, the AYLA Central and Regional Offices provided the following services in the scope of work of all the implemented projects:
Provision of legal resources
- Provision of modern legal literature
- Provision of legal video production
- Provision of computer, fax, e-mail and Internet services
- Provision of RA legislative computer software program
1350 people used the legal resources of AYLA in 2008. 1049 people (77.7%) used the legal literature, and 301 people (22.3%) used the Armenian legislative computer software program and the other services (computer, Internet and fax):
| Type | Number | % | ||
| Legal literature | 1049 | 78.52 | ||
| Computer systems | 301 | 22.3 | ||
| Total | 1350 | 100 |
345 people or 25.56 % of the users are male and 1005 or 74.44 % are female:
| Gender | Number | % | ||
| Female | 1005 | 74.44 | ||
| Male | 345 | 25.56 | ||
| Total | 345 | 100 |
Free legal advice and advocacy services
In 2008, AYLA offices provided free legal advice services and court representation for the representatives of the vulnerable groups of the society. Altogether 1332 people applied for AYLA services. 425beneficiaries or 31.9 % were male and 905 beneficiaries or 67.95% were female, 2 clients or 0 % were juridical persons.
Percentage of Beneficiaries, by Legal Service, AYLA 2008
| Spheres of the free legal services | Number of beneficiaries per area | Percentage of beneficiaries | ||
| Labor | 95 | 7.1 | ||
| Housing | 32 | 2.40 | ||
| Family | 135 | 10.14 | ||
| Social Security | 91 | 6.83 | ||
| Civil Rights | 414 | 31.08 | ||
| Civil Procedure | 195 | 14.64 | ||
| Administrative | 15 | 1.13 | ||
| Criminal Law | 56 | 4.20 | ||
| Land Ownership | 11 | 0.83 | ||
| Health | 3 | 0.23 | ||
| Education and Science | 12 | 0.90 | ||
| Criminal Procedure | 22 | 1.65 | ||
| NA Elections | 21 | 1.58 | ||
| Other legal issues | 230 | 17.27 | ||
| TOTAL | 1332 | 100 |
Type of the Beneficiaries of AYLA Legal Service
| Type | Number | % | ||
| Physical persons | 1330 | 99.85 | ||
| Juridical persons | 2 | 0.15 | ||
| Total | 1332 | 100 |
Gender of the Beneficiaries of AYLA Legal Service
| Gender | Number | % | ||
| Female | 905 | 68.05 | ||
| Male | 425 | 31.95 | ||
| Total | 1330 | 100 |
VIII. AYLA ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
| General Assembly | ||||||||||
| Board | President | |||||||||
| Branches | Committeess | Law Students’ Division | Clubs | Executive Director | ||||||
| Yerevan | Proffessional | Women and Vulnerable Groups | Cultural | Staff | ||||||
| Human Rights, European Integration and International Cooperation | ||||||||||
| Shirak | Jessup | Project Implementation | ||||||||
| Lori | ||||||||||
| Tavush | ||||||||||
| Gegharkunik | ||||||||||
| Syunik |
- AYLA BOARD
The Board of the Organizaction is considered to be the governing body of the Organization in-between the General Assemblies. The composition of the Board is determined at the General Meeting of AYLA members, which is held every two years. AYLA held its VIII General Meeting on 4 December 2008. The General Meeting elected the Board of the organization:
| Name | Title | |
| Karen Zadoyan | AYLA President, Head of AYLA Board | |
| David Abgaryan | AYLA Vice-President, Deputy-Head of AYLA Board | |
| Narineh Karapetyan | AYLA Responsible Secretary, Responsible Secretary of AYLA Board | |
| Artsrun Mirzoyan | AYLA Board member | |
| Garik Hayrapetyan | AYLA Board member, Head of AYLA Gegharkunik branch | |
| Lusineh Abgaryan | AYLA Board member | |
| Arshavir Khalapyan | AYLA Board member, Head of AYLA Syunik branch | |
| Liana Harutyunyan | AYLA Board member, Coordinator of the AYLA Professional Committees | |
| Arpine Yeghikyan | AYLA Board member, National Administrator of the Jessup Competition, Coordinator of the Jessup Club of Armenia | |
| Marat Atovmyan | AYLA Board member, Head of Human Rights, European Integration and International Cooperation Committee | |
| Robert Grigoryan | AYLA Board member |
- CONTACTS
ARMENIAN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
Central Office
7 Nalbandyan Str. # 2, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia,
Zip Code: 0010,
Phone: (+374 10) 540199
Fax: (+374 10) 580299
E-mail: [email protected]