- About the Organization
The Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA) was founded in 1995 with the aim of promoting the establishment of the Republic of Armenia as an independent, democratic, legal and social state. In the past, the organization has carried out numerous mission-oriented and goal-oriented projects, serving tens of thousands of beneficiaries.
Since its establishment, ALA has been actively involved in the public life of Armenia. ALA’s first activity was dedicated to the clarification and advocacy of Armenian laws, after which the organization implemented programs aimed at creating a legal framework governing the activities of NGOs, as well as providing legal assistance to NGOs. ALA programs were then aimed at providing free legal services to the socially vulnerable population, protecting their rights and legitimate interests.
ALA has a great role in improving public policies and institutional reforms in the Republic of Armenia in the fields of justice, civil society, human rights protection, anti-corruption and a number of other areas. ALA is one of the main pioneers of anti-corruption reforms in the Republic of Armenia, and with its active participation and proposals a number of anti-corruption legislative and institutional reforms continue to be implemented in the Republic of Armenia.
ALA has established the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders, which has been training anti-corruption leaders for many years.
ALA is also a member of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Coalition.
More than a thousand lawyers and other professionals, currently serving as attorneys, judges, prosecutors, investigators, notaries, public and private lawyers, human rights defenders, have undergone legal-professional, human rights, integrity and anti-corruption education programs organized by the ALA. One of the important educational programs was the Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the Armenian round of which was organized by the ALA, and thanks to which we now have a generation of highly qualified international law specialists in Armenia.
Since 1999, ALA has been actively working in the regions. Currently, ALA has regional branches in Shirak, the office is located in Gyumri; in Lori, the office is located in Vanadzor; and in Syunik, the office is located in Kapan. The ALA Central Offices and the office of Yerevan branch are located in Yerevan.
Throughout its operations, the ALA attaches great importance to the development of the CSO community, the capacity of CSOs, and regulatory legislation of the sector.
The Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenian CSOs, which unites about 54 CSOs (official website: www.aac.am), and the Constructive Dialogue Network of Armenian CSOs (official website: ccd.armla.am), which brings together about 230 CSOs from 14 CSO coalitions, have been established within the framework of EU-supported projects on the initiative of the ALA. An online educational capacity building platform for CSOs and CSO Coalitions has been established and is currently being operated by the ALA.
ALA attaches great importance to international cooperation, in the framework of which it has cooperated with the European Union, the United Nations, the United States Agency for International Development, the OSCE and a number of other reputable international and foreign organizations.
In 2012, the Armenian Lawyers’ Association founded and is currently operating the Iravaban.net news website. It is an independent professional website that was created to promote the legal awareness of the society, develop a modern legal culture, assist to the development of professional skills of lawyers, serve as a platform for publishing the scientific papers in the legal field and the coverage of different events in the legal sphere that take place in Armenia and worldwide.
Taking into account the results recorded by the previous strategy of the ALA, the lessons learned, the international and Armenian developments in the field, including legal innovation, as well as the Artsakh war in 2020, the Genocide of the Armenians in Artsakh in 2023 and their forced displacement from Artsakh, currently the most important issues and challenges for the ALA are:
- ALA modernization and applying legal innovations,
- Development of ALA organizational capacity, including financial self-sufficiency,
- Development of ALA membership,
- Creating a professional, having integrity values and innovative legal community,
- Development of citizens’ legal and anti-corruption culture,
- Capacity building of civil society, including CSO Coalitions and Networks and networks established at the initiative of the ALA and ensuring their financial self-sufficiency,
- Increasing the impact of the ALA on monitoring, evaluation, development and improvement of public policies in the areas of justice, law enforcement, human rights protection, civil society development, anti-corruption and other target areas. These include:
- Creating a secure legal environment for the RA citizens,
- Development and implementation of legal innovations,
- Establishment of an independent, efficient and credible judiciary,
- Establishment of an effective, reliable, transparent and accountable law enforcement system,
- Establishment of the Armenian model of the anti-corruption institutional system,
- Improving the effectiveness of human rights protection mechanisms,
- Documenting the testimonies of people who were subjected to genocide and forcibly displaced from Artsakh in 2020 and 2023,
- Creating an environment conducive to the development of civil society.
More detailed information about the ALA can be found on the official website of the organization at www.armla.am.
2. Future Vision
As a sovereign, professional, having integrity values and innovative organization, strive to unite and lead the legal community with a high level of professional competence and inviolable integrity values to ensure the development of a secure legal environment, legal culture, rule of law and legal innovation in society.
3. Mission
To promote the formation of a sovereign legal community in Armenia with high professional competencies, invulnerable integrity values, which applies legal innovation; establishment of secure legal environment, legal culture, the rule of law and legal innovation in the society.
4. Values
Sovereignty, professionalism, honesty, leadership, innovation, teamwork, integrity, fairness, solidarity, constructive dialogue, purposefulness, courage and forgiveness.
5. ALA’s Strategic Goals, Objectives and Action Plan
Goal 1. Contribute to the establishment and development of a professional, baring integrity values and innovative legal community and secure, innovative, and favorable environment in the field of justice.
Objective 1.1. Raise the standards of the legal profession, legal innovation and public confidence in the profession lawyer:
Action 1.1.1. Through Iravaban.net and other innovative legal platforms, to conduct series, programs, interviews, public lectures aimed at presenting the professional works of the ALA members and non-member lawyers: attorneys, judges, prosecutors, investigators, notaries, scientists and professors, to raise the existing problems and to present successes.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, Editor of Iravaban.net, staff and members.
Objective 1.2. Increase the capacity of lawyers: attorneys, judges, prosecutors, investigators, notaries, other lawyers in the professional, integrity and legal innovation area:
Action 1.2.1. Organizing innovative targeted training programs (including online and distance), conferences, workshops, public lectures and other events on professional, integrity, legal innovation topics for the ALA member and non-member lawyers.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Objective 1.3. Develop the network cooperation between the organizations as well as the law firms uniting the Armenian lawyers working abroad and in Armenia.
Action 1.3.1. Implementation of programs (including online and remote) on professional topics of national significance with the participation of organizations and law firms uniting Armenian lawyers operating abroad and in Armenia, organizing forums, conferences, seminars, discussion fairs and other events.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Action 1.3.2. Through Iravaban.net and other innovative legal platforms, present the activities carried out by organizations uniting Armenian lawyers and law firms operating abroad and in Armenia, highlighting the existing problems and presenting successes.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, Editor of Iravaban.net, staff and members.
Objective 1.4. Promote the development, improvement, monitoring and evaluation of public policies promoting justice and the administration of justice through evidence-based expertise.
Action 1.4.1. Carry out evidence-based monitoring, evaluation and improvement of the “2022-2026 Strategy of Judicial and Legal Reforms of the Republic of Armenia, and the deriving Action Plan”, sectoral legislation, legal secure environment, legal innovation, international obligations undertaken by the Republic of Armenia and institutions.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – President, staff and members.
Action 1.4.2. Carry out evidence-based monitoring, evaluation and improvement of the RA police reform strategy and the resulting action plan, sectoral legislation, secure and legal safe environment, legal innovation, international obligations undertaken by the RA and institutions.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff, and members.
Expected Results
- Standards for the legal profession, legal innovation and public confidence in the profession of lawyer will increase.
- The capacity of lawyers: attorneys, judges, prosecutors, investigators, notaries, other lawyers in the professional, integrity and legal innovation area will increase.
- The organizational, legal innovation capacity, and networking cooperation and influence of the organizations and law firms uniting Armenian lawyers operating abroad and in Armenia, will strengthen.
- Public policies that promote justice and the administration of justice, a secure legal environment, and legal innovation will be improved and reformed, and the impact of ALA in these areas will increase.
Goal 2. Contribute to the protection of human rights, the development of democracy and civil society, the establishment of a secure legal environment, legal innovation, as well as legal and good governance culture:
Objective 2.1. To increase the knowledge and skills of citizens and professionals in the areas of human rights protection, democracy, civil society, secure legal environment, legal innovation, legal, good governance and anti-corruption reforms:
Action 2.1.1. Organization of innovative awareness programs, seminars, public lectures, workshops, open lectures and other events for citizens on the advocacy of human rights, democracy, civil society, secure legal environment, legal innovation, legal (including constitutional reforms), innovative good governance and anti-corruption awareness ( including online and distance) programs, also, using the opportunities and solutions provided by artificial intelligence as much as possible.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff, and members.
Action 2.1.2. Conduct through Iravaban.net and other legal innovative platforms, publicly available and accessible public awareness programs and lectures on human rights advocacy, democracy, civil society, legal (including constitutional reforms), innovative good governance and anti-corruption awareness through the Iravaban.net and other innovative legal platforms, using the opportunities and solutions provided by artificial intelligence as much as possible.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, Editor of Iravaban.net, staff and members.
Action 2.1.3. Introduction of innovative systems for rapid response to corruption cases and violations of human rights in the relevant bodies and the ALA, using the opportunities and solutions provided by artificial intelligence as much as possible: coordination and publicizing of that cases. Provision of legal assistance by the ALA offices in cases of corruption to socially vulnerable persons and persons with limited access to legal assistance through offices, telephone, internet, Iravaban.net, hotline, as well as on-site and community visits.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, lawyer members of the staff, Editor of Iravaban.net and staff.
Action 2.1.4. Organizing innovative targeted training programs (including online and distance), clubs, schools, academies, conferences, workshops, public lectures and other events on human rights, democracy, civil society, legal, good governance, and anti-corruption topics for professionals who are members and/or not members of the ALA.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Objective 2.2. To document the testimonies of people who were subjected to genocide and forcibly displaced from Artsakh in 2020 and 2023, the stories of military personnel who lost limbs and/or were killed, to contribute to the protection of the rights of people forcibly displaced to Armenia and who appeared in socially vulnerable situations as a result of the Artsakh wars.
Action 2.2.1. To document through video footages the testimonies of people subjected to genocide and forcibly displaced from Artsakh in 2020 and 2023, as well as the stories of soldiers who lost limbs and/or were killed.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Action 2.2.2. Providie legal assistance to people who were displaced and arrive to the Republic of Armenia due to the Artsakh wars and are in a socially vulnerable situation.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Objective 2.3. Promote development, introduction and improvement of public policy, monitoring, evaluation, and the introduction and development of sectoral institutions and tools in the Republic of Armenia through evidence-based expertise in the areas of human rights protection, democracy, civil society, secure legal environment, legal innovation, legal, good governance, and anti-corruption.
Action 2.3.1. Carry out evidence-based monitoring, evaluation and improvement of the “National Strategy for Human Rights Protection and Deriving Action Plan for 2023-2025”, aimed at strengthening sectoral legislation, human rights, democracy and civil society, secure legal environment, legal innovation, international obligations undertaken by the Republic of Armenia and institutions
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Action 2.3.2. Implement the evidence=based monitoring, evaluation and improvement of the sectoral legislation, secure legal environment, legal innovation, international obligations undertaken by the RA and institutions aimed at strengthening the standards of good governance arising from the of Public Administration Reforms Strategy and its roadmap for 2022-2024.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Action 2.3.3. Carry out evidence-based monitoring, evaluation and improvement of the Anti-Corruption Strategy of the Republic of Armenia and its Implementation Action Plan 2023-2026, sectoral legislation aimed at strengthening anti-corruption and good governance, secure legal environment, legal innovation, international obligations undertaken by the RA and institutions. Contribute to the reforms and development of anti-corruption institutions and tools in Armenia.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Action 2.3.4. Support the establishment and development of the Armenian model of the anti-corruption institutional system in the Republic of Armenia, including the constitutionally independent anti-corruption specialized body (ies), the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office and the anti-corruption court as well as to their evidence-based monitoring, evaluation and improvement.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Action 2.3.5. Implementation of targeted innovative anti-corruption and integrity training programs (including online and distance training) aimed at strengthening the integrity capacity of public servants, including community and civil servants in the areas of public administration, local self-government and public service of the RA, using the opportunities and solutions provided by artificial intelligence as much as possible.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Action 2.3.6. Establishment, development of CSOs, development (improvement) of organizational, evidence-based public policies, implementation of public monitoring and evaluation, formation and development of new generation of CSO sectoral coalitions, building of constructive dialogue with local and state governments, volunteering, critical thinking, social entrepreneurship, ensuring feedback with beneficiaries, integrity, anti-corruption, investigative capacity and improving the environment through the development of innovative targeted training programs (including online and distance training) and other activities, the provision of grants and the improvement of legislation regulating the area and using the opportunities and solutions provided by artificial intelligence as much as possible.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Action 2.3.7 Contribute to raising public awareness and legal perception on human rights, access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in all areas (including the environmental) by implementing innovative projects using the opportunities and solutions provided by artificial intelligence as much as possible.
Period – 2024-2027.
Person responsible – ALA President, staff and members.
Expected results:
- The knowledge and skills of citizens and professionals in the areas of human rights protection, democracy, civil society, secure legal environment, legal innovation, legal (including constitutional reform), good governance and anti-corruption will increase.
- The testimonies of people who were subjected to genocide and forcibly displaced from Artsakh in 2020 and 2023, the stories of military personnel who lost limbs and/or were killed will be documented. Capacity to protect the rights of people forcibly displaced to the RA as a result of the Artsakh wars and socially disadvantaged will strengthen.
- Public policies in the areas of human rights protection, democracy, civil society, secure legal environment, legal innovation, legal, good governance and anti-corruption will be improved and reformed, sectoral institutions and innovative tools will be introduced and developed, and the impact of the ALA will increase.
- The capacity of CSOs will be developed and the legislation regulating the field of CSOs will be improved, innovative mechanisms and solutions of the area will be introduced and developed.
6. Expectations and Possible Risks
The Armenian Lawyers’ Association is a professional body endowed with high independence, sovereignty, professionalism and integrity, which enjoys the trust of the society, state bodies, donors and the media. The Armenian Lawyers’ Association is a member of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Armenian National Platform.
The Republic is a member of the European Council and the Eastern Partnership of the European Union; although reforms in the field of justice, human rights protection, anti-corruption, police and other legal spheres continue in the country, the level of citizens’ trust in their implementation and results is low.
As a result of the unhealthy competition of certain CSOs that play a role in the community of civil society organizations and aim to gain a “dominant position”, including the fact that through providing unreliable information about other CSOs that play a role in the CSO community to the international and foreign organizations, they seek to attract funds from the donors and to gain a competitive advantage and a dominant position in a dishonest way.
Possible risks include the resumption of hostilities, the region’s volatile environment, vulnerable legal security, and the loss of citizens’ trust in human rights and mechanisms for their protection.
7. Monitoring and Evaluation
Overall monitoring of the implementation of the strategic goals and objectives set out in this Strategic Plan will be carried out by the ALA Board in close collaboration with the ALA President and staff based on a review of the action plan, work plans and ongoing programs. If necessary, the ALA Board may order an external independent evaluation service of the ALA Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 to obtain a complete and objective picture of the implementation of the strategic plan.
In order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the ALA Strategic Plan for 2024-2027, ALA members will conduct seminars on the review of the ALA Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 and on the ALA self-assessment activities, on the basis of which the revised Strategic Plan of the ALA for 2024-2027 will be posted on the official ALA website.*
*Note: The ALA Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 was developed by the Strategic Planning Committee chaired by the ALA President in November-December 2023, and in accordance with the ALA Charter, it was approved by the ALA Board at the meeting held on 22.12.2023.