- Address of the President of Armenian Young Lawyers Association
We have the pleasure to introduce to your attention the Annual Report of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association for 2004. This is a brief summary of the activities that the organization carried out in the course of the past year and refers to the main trends of its activities, as well as the implemented projects and financial reports. It also indicates the progress, which AYLA achieved during the year.
The Organization is dedicated to its mission and values since the establishment. AYLA’s continuous activities are the demonstration of our effectiveness. The ability to be actual, original and sustainable in an environment, where diversity is commendable, is the challenge of our century.
Of course a lot has been done, yet we have even more to do, as the society nowadays still faces numerous legal problems, which require solution. If we through a glance back to the public life of Armenia, we shall note the obvious importance, which the organizations that build the civil society obtained during a rather short period of time. And at the same time we shall notice that their influence has insensibly but persistently spread throughout the country. AYLA has had its role in these developments as well.
Currently the Organization has already established the grounds for its sustainable development, and we have stepped into a more advanced phase. I have to note that these achievements would have been impossible without the inspiration, as well as the devoted work of our members and adherents.
I would like to express my gratitude to the colleagues, allies, media representatives, as well as the organization members and the staff for the support and assistance to the AYLA.
AYLA will consecutively carry out activities aimed at raising the level of legal consciousness of the population and the protection of their rights. The organization will further promote the formation of professional skills among the new generation of lawyers, develop the process of the legal education and breed values and experience that are crucial for the formation of legal culture and legally educated society.
Respects,
Karen Zadoyan,
Lawyer,
President of Armenian Young Lawyers Association
- GENERAL INFORMATION
A group of the students of the faculty of law from the Yerevan State University founded the NGO “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” (AYLA) in 1995. It was registered at the RA Ministry of Justice on March 14, 1995. The organization was re-registered in May 1997, December 1999 and December 2002. The Mission of the Association is:
To develop a new generation of highly professional lawyers, which have new mode of thinking and will promote to the establishment of the rule of law, democracy and formation of the civil society in Armenia, where the people are aware of their rights and their rights are protected.
The values of Armenian Young Lawyers Association are:
- The modern legal culture, which is based on the heritage of the centuries old Armenian values.
- Legally educated and knowing society, which is aware of its rights.
- Highly professional lawyers and advocates, which possess new mode of legal thinking, and protected human rights.
- Powerful non-governmental organizations and strong civil society.
The Future Vision of the Association is
The Armenian Young Lawyers Association should be one of the most influential, well-known, powerful and useful organizations in the legal field of Armenia, having conscious, adherents, which possess the modern thinking and be highly professional lawyers
AYLA joins lawyers, advocates, law students, and other individuals that are interested in law. The organization enlarges its membership with individuals who understand AYLA Mission and Values and are willing to support AYLA to realize its future vision.
AYLA has 7 offices that are located in Yerevan, Vanadzor, Kapan, Gyumri, Gavar, Ijevan and Goris.
AYLA has established a Law Students’ Division (LSD), which operates actively.
The Mission of AYLA Law Students’ Division is:
Promote to the improvement of the quality of legal education of the lawyers of new generation and progress of the science; raise the level of legal consciousness in the country; protect the legal rights and interests of the population.
The activities of the Law Students’ Department are aimed at the improvement of the self-organization, self-development and organization of the professional practice of the law students. LSD supports to realization of the research work and publishing the articles by the law students through organizing scientific conferences and other contests.
AYLA held its last General Meeting on December 5, 2004. 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 |
Considering the importance of reporting and transparency AYLA conducts an independent international audit of its financial activities on regular basis. The organization considers the auditors’ comments and suggestions and realizes them on timely basis. AYLA conducted an international financial audit in 2004 as well. The International Audit Conclusion and Financial Reports on the Financial Assets of Armenian Young Lawyers Association are included in this annual report.
III. THE INTERNATIONAL AUDIT CONCLUSION AND FINANCIAL REPORTS ON THE FINANCIAL ASSETS OF ARMENIAN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION FOR 2004
“Business Consult” CJSC
AUDIT’S REPORT ON THE SPECIAL FINANCIAL REPORTS
“Armenian Young Lawyers Association” Non-Governmental Organization
Financial reports as of December 31, 2004
To General Assembly and Executive Board of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” Non-Governmental Organization:
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” non-governmental organization as of December 31, 2004, and the related statements of activities and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” non-governmental organization’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Audit Standards and practice. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Organization Management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
AUDIT OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL REPORTS
In our opinion, the financial statements of the “Armenian Young Lawyers Association” non-governmental organization present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the organisation as of 31 December 2004, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the year then ended; the accounting is conducted in conformity with the requirements of the RA Law on Accounting.
Auditor `
Balance Sheet
31 December 2004
AMD ths.
| ASSETS | 2004 | 2003 |
| I. Non-Current Assets | ||
| Capital Assets | 41,802 | 41,776 |
| Intangible Assets | 159 | 177 |
| Total Non Current Assets: | 41,961 | 41,953 |
| II. Current Assets | ||
| Prepayments | 2,969 | 7,222 |
| Accounts receivable on sales | 428 | 4 |
| Short-term receivables (budget) | 11 | |
| Other accounts receivable | 279 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 19,596 | 39,698 |
| Total Current Assets | 23,283 | 46,924 |
| BALANCE | 65,244 | 88,877 |
LIABILITIES |
||
| III. Equity | ||
| Accumulated profit (loss) | 763 | |
| Other components of equity | 465 | |
| Total Equity: | 763 | 465 |
| V. Current Liabilities | ||
| Accounts payable (purchases) | 122 | |
| Short-term payables to the budget | 189 | |
| Short-term payables for mandatory social insurance | 47 | 146 |
| Short-term payables (salaries and other short-term compensation to the employees) | 893 | |
| Grants related to income | 64,434 | 87,062 |
| Other current liabilities | ||
| Total Current Liabilities: | 64,481 | 88,412 |
| BALANCE | 65,244 | 88,877 |
Statement of Financial Results
01.01.2004 – 31.12.2004.
AMD ths.
| 2004 | 2003 | |
| Other operating income, including: | 54,751 | 57,445 |
| Grants | 54,114 | 56,601 |
| Membership fees | 637 | 844 |
| Other operating expenses, including: | 54,452 | 56,980 |
| Grants | 54,114 | 56,601 |
| Membership fees | 339 | 379 |
| Operating income (loss) | 299 | 465 |
| Other non-operating income (loss) | (4,240) | 0 |
| Income (loss) from ordinary activity | (3,941) | 465 |
IV. IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES
In 2004 adhering to its mission and values, as well as principally carrying out the activities aimed at realizing its strategic goals, AYLA continued implementation of a number of projects that had started during the past years
- a) “The 2004 Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition”
“Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition” is one of the most widely known and respected world spread competitions for the law students. The competition is dated back to 1959. The final round of the Armenian National Competition took place in February 2004. Student’s teams of the law schools and the departments of law of other institutes of Armenia took part in the competition. The student’s team of the law department of Yerevan State University, the winner of the National Round took part in the final international round, which took place in Washington, US. The Armenian team was 52nd among the teams from 94 countries, which met at the International Round of the Complementation. The details on “Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition” are available on the official website of “Philip Jessup Law Moot Court Competition Armenian Round” at http://jessup.ayla.am. The project was supported by Armenian Representation of American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative (ABA CEELI) and the US Embassy.
- b) “Legal Resources and Aid”
The project started on 1 October 2003 and was accomplished on 30 September 2004. The activities of the project included:
- Assistance to the young lawyers, young advocates and law students to continue their legal education,
- Continue operation of AYLA training and information centers,
- Continue providing free legal services to socially vulnerable layers of the population,
- Foundation of AYLA Law Students’ Division,
- Organization of the First Republican Scientific Conference for the Law Students “Current State of Advocacy and Prospects for its Development in the Republic of Armenia”. The Conference was organized by AYLA Law Students’ Division (More detailed information on the Conference is available on the official website of the conference at: http://www.ayla.am/eng/activity/other/conference1/conference.htm),
- Foundation of Professional Committees,
- Participation in realization of procedural observation.
The project was supported by the Armenian Representation of American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative (ABA CEELI).
- c) “Legal Resources and Aid”
The project started on October 1, 2004 and was continued in 2005. The activities of the project include:
- Assistance to the young lawyers, young advocates and law students to continue their legal education,
- Continue operation of AYLA training and information centers,
- Continue providing free legal services to socially vulnerable layers of the population,
- Continue activities of AYLA Law Students’ Division
- Publication of the quarterly newsletter “Law Student” of AYLA Law Students’ Division,
- Organization of The First Scientific Conference of the Law Students “The Constitutional Reforms in the Republic of Armenia”. The Conference was organized by AYLA Law Students’ Division (More detailed information on the Conference is available on the official website of the conference at: http://www.ayla.am/lsd/arm/activity/realized.htm)
The project was supported by the Armenian Representation of American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative (ABA CEELI) and the US Embassy.
- d) “The 2005 Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition”
In February 2005 The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition was held in Armenia for the 5th time. The winner of the Armenian National took part in the International round, which was held in Spring 2005 in Washington, US. The details on “Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition” are available on the official website of “Philip Jessup Law Moot Court Competition Armenian Round” at http://jessup.ayla.am. The Law Foundation of Armenia organized the Armenian National Round of Jessup Competition in cooperation with the Armenian Young Lawyers Association and AYLA Law Students’ Division. The project was supported by the US Embassy. The International Law Students Association (ILSA), Armenian Bar Association of America, the Armenian Representation of American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative (ABA CEELI) and USAID supported our team in the international round of the Competition.
- e) “AYLA Strengthening”
The project implementation continued in the course of 2004. The project aims at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Association and to continue providing free legal services, making them more accessible and effective. The project was supported by the Dutch “Cordaid” Charitable Organization.
f)”Training of Trainers on Advocacy for NGOs”
In the period of July 1 – September 15, 2004 Armenian Young Lawyers Association implemented the sub-project “Training of Trainers on Advocacy for NGOs” in the bounds of a larger project “The Armenia – Public Sector Reform Programme”, which was carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. on the financial support of Great Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID). The sub-project was aimed at organizing “Advocacy Trainings” for the representatives of Armenian NGOs. Five training courses were carried out in four cities of the Republic of Armenia. Representatives of Armenian NGOs and AYLA regional branches attended the trainings. The details on the project are available at: http://www.ayla.am/eng/activity/other/training1/training.htm.
- g) “Dissemination of Information” sub-project
In the period of July 1 – September 15, 2004 Armenian Young Lawyers Association implemented an Information Dissemination project in the bounds of a larger project “Reformation of the Armenian Public Sector”, which was carried out by the Great Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Government of Armenia. AYLA in cooperation with Ministry of Labor and Social Issues, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Science and Education published 10 tittles of information leaflets on the public services provided by the above-mentioned ministries, as well as on state services in the sphere of freedom of information. The detailed information on the information leaflets is available at: http://www.ayla.am/eng/library/publications.htm 5000 copies of each title of information leaflets published in the bounds of the project were disseminated among the RA population of the using the possibilities provided by the newly established Information Center of the 3rd Governmental building of the of RA. 16 radio programs about the public services provided by RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Science were broadcast on the Public Radio of Armenia. The detailed information on the information leaflets is available at: http://www.ayla.am/eng/library/radio/radio.htm.
The concluding seminar of the sub-project “Dissemination of Information” was held on August 14-15, 2004 in the Writers’ Creativity House in Tsakhkadzor. The detailed information on the information leaflets is available at: http://www.ayla.am/eng/activity/other/seminar1/seminar.htm.
- STATISTICS OF IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES
In 2004 the AYLA 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
5131 people made use of the legal resources of AYLA in 2004. 3614 people of this amount or 70.43% used the legal literature, 1517 or 29.57%- used the Armenian legislative computer software program and other services (computer, Internet and fax):
| Type | Number | % | ||
| Legal literature | 3614 | 70.43 | ||
| Computer systems | 1517 | 29.57 | ||
Total |
5131 | 100 |
| Sex | Number | % | ||
| Female | 3163 | 61.64 | ||
| Male | 1968 | 38.36 | ||
Total |
5131 | 100 |
1968 people or 38.36%of the users are male, and 3163 people or 61.64% are female.
Organization of Seminars and Trainings
- a) Seminars and trainings on different areas of the Armenian Legislation and International Law
In 2004 AYLA offices organized 280 seminars on different spheres of the Armenian legislation and International Law. About 210 lawyers and law students attended the trainings. The participants of the trainings conducted 2 or more seminars for the pupils of the schools in different regions of Armenia.
4832 pupils from 97 schools participated in 321 seminars conducted by the participants of the Street Law trainings:
- b) Courses on Human Rights and European Law:
AYLA Central Office organized 6 training courses on Human Rights and European Law. Each training course included a series of 8 seminars. 60 lawyers and law students attended the courses.
Free legal advice and advocacy services
In 2004 AYLA offices provided free legal services and court representative services to 5464 people. 2283 people or 41.78 were male and 3088 or 56.52% were female.
The statistics of the provided services according to the spheres of the right is as follows:
| Spheres of the free legal services | Number of beneficiaries per area | Percentage of beneficiaries |
| Labor | 679 | 12.43 |
| Housing | 498 | 9.11 |
| Family | 662 | 12.12 |
| Social Security | 671 | 12.28 |
| Civil Rights | 799 | 14.62 |
| Civil Procedure | 162 | 2.96 |
| Administrative | 45 | 0.82 |
| Criminal Law | 183 | 3.35 |
| Land Ownership | 46 | 0.84 |
| Health | 32 | 0.59 |
| Education and Science | 54 | 0.99 |
| Environmental Protection | 4 | 0.07 |
| Trafficking | 0 | 0.00 |
| Gender Issues (family violence) | 0 | 0.00 |
| International Law | 12 | 0.22 |
| Proprietorship | 316 | 5.78 |
| Liabilities | 125 | 2.29 |
| Heritage | 262 | 4.80 |
| Bargains and contracts | 116 | 2.12 |
| Bound to military service | 88 | 1.61 |
| Refugees and asylum seekers | 58 | 1.06 |
| Other legal issues | 0 | 0.00 |
| TOTAL | 5464 | 100 |
|
|