- Historical Overview
“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 several thousand beneficiaries.
The organization has paid much attention to the establishment of its regional branches in the provinces. Currently eight offices of AYLA operate in Yerevan (the Central Office and the Office of Yerevan Province), AYLA branch office of Shirak province in Gyumri, AYLA branch office of Lori province in Vanadzor, AYLA branch office of Tavush province in Ijevan, AYLA branch office of Gegharkunik province in Gavar, AYLA branch office of Syunik province in Kapan, and Goris regional office of AYLA branch office in Syunik province.
The number of AYLA members, its adherents as well as its volunteers has grown during the past period and now is about 250. The organization has undertaken prompt actions for 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 office equipment. The organization has purchased own office spaces for the Central Office in Yerevan as well as for the offices in Kapan and Gyumri.
AYLA has expanded its ties with international and foreign organizations too. The organization is a 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 established partnership relations with the Armenian office of American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA CEELI); United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Great Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID). The organization has actively cooperated or is cooperating with other international organizations as well. Such as OSCE Armenian Office, “Eurasia” Foundation, German GTZ organization, Armenian branch of Chemonics International, IFES, PriceWaterHouseCoopers and others. AYLA cooperates with local law organizations: Advocates Union of Republic of Armenia, International Union of Advocates, Constitutional Court of Armenia, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Security, the Council of Civil Service, regional and local self-governance bodies, different NGOs and Mass Media.
- Brief Analysis of the Organization’s Activities
AYLA implements its activities on the assumption of its mission, goals and objectives. We can indicate to principal directions of AYLA’s activities:
- Raise of the legal consciousness among the population and defending their rights:
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. Later the number of the offices grew. AYLA offices are carrying out the following activities aimed at raising the legal consciousness among the population and defending the rights of socially vulnerable layers of the population:
- free legal services,
- protection of the rights and legal interest in court,
- publication and dissemination of newsletters referring to different areas of Armenian Legislation,
- broadcast of TV and radio programs on different legal issues,
- organization of legal seminars for the population.
The organization has published the study “Legal Services in Armenia” and the manual “Centers Providing Free Legal Services and Information Dissemination”.
- Activities aimed at raising the professional level of young lawyers, law students and advocates:
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 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. AYLA offices organize professional trainings, seminars, discussions and other events as well. The centers also organize computer courses and courses of English language.
In addition to above mentioned, the organization carried out other activities as well. The organization has actively participated and currently is supporting to judicial and legal reforms in Armenia and especially in the sphere of advocacy. AYLA has organized a number of seminars and discussions, including an international seminar on the reforms in advocacy sphere. The organization has implemented and is currently carrying out projects on refugee issues and migration.
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 will continue carrying out these activities in future.
AYLA has initiated the establishment of the Coalition of Organizations providing Free Legal Services and launched its website www.legalaid.am as well as the Coalition of the Organizations working in the Social Sphere.
One of the strong aspects of AYLA is its internal institutional development, which is realized as follows:
- Realization of the self-assessment of the organization’s activities in the course of the last years with the support of the advisor of the Armenian office of American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA CEELI),
- Elaboration and realization of the organization’s development plan for 2003 based on the self-assessment
- Realization of the international audit on the financial activities of the organization in 2001-2002 and the positive conclusion of the audit
- Introduction of the computerized accounting system
- Elaboration and launching of the organization’s website 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 greater 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. The limited liability company, which the organization had established, initially displayed certain activities. Currently the LLC does not carry out almost any activity. Yet the renewal of the commercial organization is planed after the reforms.
- 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 own office spaces in Yerevan, Kapan and Gyumri, yet the issue of purchasing own office spaces for its regional branches will 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 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.
- Mission and Values
The mission of the organization 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 the organization are:
- a) The modern legal culture, which is based on the heritage of the centuries old Armenian values.
- b) Legally educated and knowing society, which is aware of its rights.
- c) Highly professional lawyers and advocates, which possess new mode of legal thinking, and protected human rights.
- d) Powerful non-governmental organizations and strong civil society.
- AYLA’s Strategic Goals, Objectives and Action Plan
| Goal 1. | Raising the level of legal consciousness of the population and protection of the legal rights and interest: |
| Objective 1.1 | Provide legal assistance to the socially vulnerable people. |
| Objective 1.2 | Dissemination of information on legal and social services provided by the State among the population. |
| Objective 1.3 | Provide free legal services to the population using the new methods. |
| Objective 1.4 | Publication of legal periodicals. |
Action Plan 1
| No | Description of the activities | Period | Person responsible |
| Action 1.1.1 | Providing free legal services to socially vulnerable layers of the population of RA through AYLA’s Yerevan and regional offices (in house and on the phone). | 2004-2006. | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.1.2 | Protection of the rights and legal interests of the refugees and asylum seekers in the court. | 2004-2006. | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.1.3 | Organization of seminars and special trainings aimed at raising the professional level of the legal advisers (advocates) of AYLA as well as for the members of the Coalition. | Once in a year | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.1.4 | Elaboration and application of the quality standards of the legal advice. | 2004-2006 | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.2.1 | Publication and dissemination of legal information bulletins based on the statistic analysis of the requests and questions of the people, which applied for the assistance to AYLA offices. | Once in a year | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.2.2 | Publication and dissemination of information bulletins and a manual on public services provided by the State. | Once in a year | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.2.3 | Dissemination of legal information through mass media. | 2004-2006 | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.2.4 | Establishment of joint information centers aimed at insuring the transparency of the State and local government bodies’ activities. | Once in a year | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.3.1 | Providing legal advice through Internet in cooperation with other interested organizations. | Once in a year | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.3.2 | Free of charge provision and instalment of computer software program of Armenian legislation in Internet in cooperation with other interested organizations. | 2004-2006 | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.3.3 | Testing and development of public awareness program. | 2004-2006 | AYLA Vice-President |
| Action 1.4.1 | Publication of the legal periodical in cooperation with other interested legal organizations. | 2004-2006 | AYLA Vice-President |
Expected results:
- a) The socially vulnerable layers of Armenian population will gain the opportunity to receive qualified and free legal services, which will protect the beneficiaries’ rights as well as solve the problems, which they raised.
- b) The professional level of AYLA’s legal advisers (advocates) will be improved. The quality of the provided services will be improved as well due to elaboration and application of the quality standards of legal advice.
- c) The level of the legal awareness of Armenian population will improve, including the knowledge on public services provided by the State.
- d) The organization will publish and disseminate among its beneficiaries corresponding information bulletins and a manual, based on the statistic analysis of the requests of people, which applied to AYLA offices.
- e) The organization will publish and disseminate information bulletins and a manual based on the research of the complete information on public services provided by the State in educational, health and social security spheres.
- f) Based on the study and analysis of the visitors’ opinions 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.
- g) AYLA will have its own periodical – the tool or rather the microphone, which will provide opportunity to participate in the decision making processes more efficiently.
| Goal 2. | Development of professional skills and adjacent abilities of the new generation of young lawyers, advocates and the law students. |
| Objective 2.1 | Organization of activities aimed at the development of skills and abilities of the new generation of young lawyers, advocates and the law students. |
| Objective 2.2 | Realization of internal reforms of AYLA. |
| Objective 2.3 | Furnishing the AYLA offices with necessary resources. |
Action Plan 2
| No | Description of the activities | Period |
Person responsible |
| Action 2.1.1 | Organization of courses, seminars, trainings, conferences and moot court competitions on differed areas of Armenian Law, as well as on Human Rights and European Law, and exchange of experience. | 2004-2006 |
AYLA Responsible Secretary |
| Action 2.2.1 | Organization of professional committees, clubs and divisions of law students in AYLA structure and realization of their activities. | 2004-2006 |
AYLA Responsible Secretary |
| Action 2.2.2 | Organization of computer training and other courses for AYLA members. Organization of various cultural and sport events. | 2004-2006 |
AYLA Responsible Secretary |
| Action 2.3.1 | Purchase of modern legal literature and other necessary resources, including own office spaces for AYLA regional branches. | 2004-2006 |
AYLA Responsible Secretary |
Expected results:
- a) The level of the legal knowledge and professional skills of the new generation of young lawyers, advocates and law students will raise and they will get more actively involved in the processes of the current legal and judicial reforms in Armenia.
- b) Strengthening of AYLA’s institutional capacity, in particular the human recourse capacity.
- c) Strengthening of the resource base of the organization, which is necessary for natural and professional activities of AYLA.
| Goal 3. | Assistance to the reform and development of the advocacy institute in Armenia. |
| Objective 3.1. | Prompt assistance to the reforms of advocacy legislation. |
| Objective 3.2. | Assistance to the development of advocacy institute in Armenia. |
Action Plan 3
| No | Description of the activities | Period | Person responsible |
| Activity 3.1.1 | Assistance to the reform of the acting law “On Advocacy” or to the adoption of the new law “On Advocacy and Advocacy Activities”, through discussions, mass media, and lobbying of the draft law in cooperation with partner organizations and experts which will foreseen possibility of having one professional advocates’ organization (union, chamber etc), substituting state examination committee for independent examination committee which will be formed by the professional organization of advocates where advocates will have majority, as well as adoption of other provisions promoting development of advocacy institute. | 2004-2006 | AYLA Vice-President and member advocates |
| Activity 3.2.1 | Assistance in internal organizational reforms of the Union (Chamber) of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia in cooperation with the management of the Union (Chamber), partner organizations and experts. | 2004-2006 | AYLA Vice-President and member advocates |
| Activity 3.2.2 | Organization of activities aimed at the development of the advocacy institute in Armenia, carrying out the advocacy campaign to enhance the role of the advocates through mass media and in cooperation with partner organizations and experts. | 2004-2006 |
AYLA Vice-President and member advocates
|
Expected results:
- a) Creation of the favourable legislation field for the development of the advocacy institute in Armenia through corresponding reforms, in particular through the possibility to join the advocates in a single professional structure (such as the union, chamber or other); creation of an independent committee with the overwhelming majority of advocates by the Advocates Union, as well as elaboration of a more efficient structure for qualification exams of the advocates (e.g. based only on testing system) and enacting other propositions, which will assist to the development of the advocacy institute.
- b) Realization of the democratic and participatory internal reforms in the Advocates Union (Chamber) of Armenia.
- c) Enhancing the role and authority of the advocacy institute among the population; development of self-dependence and independence of the advocates.
| Goal 4. | Assistance to the development of NGO sector in Armenia. |
| Objective 4.1. | Assistance to the reforms of the legislation field regulating NGO activities. |
| Objective 4.2. | Assistance to the development of the Armenian NGO sector. |
Action Plan 4
| No | Description of the activities | Period | Person responsible |
| Activity 4.1.1 | Realization of reforms of the legislation field regulating NGO activities through the research of the field, suggestions and discussions as well as organizing activities with the involvement of mass media and lobbying the draft law in cooperation with partner organizations and experts. | 2004-2006 |
AYLA Responsible Secretary and Board Members
|
| Activity 4.2.1 | Support to organization and implementation of an Advocacy Campaign and other activities aimed at realization of a comprehensive research of the NGO sector as well as rising of its role in cooperation with partner organizations and experts. | 2004-2006 |
AYLA Responsible Secretary and Board Members |
| Activity 4.2.2 | Organization of trainings and providing of corresponding professional literature as well as other necessary means aimed at strengthening of the Coalition of Law Organizations where AYLA participates. | 2004-2006 |
AYLA Responsible Secretary and Board Members |
Expected results:
- a) Creation of the favourable legislation field promoting the development of NGO Sector through the corresponding law reforms (such as providing the right directly realize enterpreneurship activities, decentralization of NGO registration and re-registration process, etc.).
- b) Realization of a comprehensive research of NGO sector, rise of the role of NGOs among population and development of the NGO sector.
- c) Strengthening of the Coalition of law organizations:
- Assumtions
- Armenia is a member of the Council of Europe. The democratic reforms are developing in the country; the civil society is in the establishment phase.
- AYLA is one of the most recognized NGOs of Armenia; the population trusts in AYLA.
- The competent state bodies assist in realization of AYLA’s activities.
- International donors as well as the partner organizations are interested to establish cooperation relations with AYLA.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
AYLA’s Executive Director, in cooperation with the heads of different implemented projects, persons responsible for the realization of different strategic trends and the heads of regional offices, will carry out the overall monitoring of the realization of goals and objectives mentioned 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 2004-2006, the members of the organization will carry out the annual self-assessment of AYLA’s activities on all levels.
The report on monitoring and evaluation of the organization’s activities will be published for the members and placed on AYLA’s website. The strategic plan for the period of 2004-2006 will be revised at the General Meeting of AYLA and approved by the Board of the organization.
Appendix 1
Participatory implementation plan of AYLA’s Strategic Planning for the period of 2004-2006
| # | Activities | Person responsible | Participants | Term | Duration | |
| 1 | Personal interviews on the ideal future of AYLA, success indexes and strategic directions (for three years) | Institution Building Advisor |
Liana Harutyunyan (AYLA Board member) |
June 2, 2003 |
2 hours | |
|
Artyom Piloyan (AYLA Board member) |
June 2, 2003 |
2 hours | ||||
|
Garik Hayrapetyan (AYLA Board member) |
June 3, 2003 |
2 hours | ||||
|
Arshavir Khalapyan (AYLA Board member) |
June 3, 2003 |
2 hours | ||||
|
Karen Zadoyan (AYLA President) |
June 5, 2003 |
2 hours | ||||
|
David Abgaryan (AYLA Vice-President) |
June 6, 2003 |
2 hours | ||||
| Total | 1 week | |||||
| 2 | Summarising the results | Institution Building Advisor |
June 9-11, 2003 |
3 days | ||
| 3 |
Working meeting of the Strategic Planning Group (first day) *Introduction of the graphic description of the summarised results the members of the planning group *Discussion and additions of the participants *SWOT: *Definition of vision *Definition of Mission and Values *Determination of the principal strategic trends (for three years) according to priority |
Institution Building Advisor |
AYLA President, Vice-President Members of Board and staff members, active members and volunteers of AYLA (AYLA Central Office in Yerevan) |
June12 2003 |
1 day | |
| 4 |
Working meeting of the Strategic Planning Group (second day) *Definition of the principal criteria for the organization’s success *Definition of 4 principal strategic goals *Elaboration of the strategies to achieve these goals *Elaboration of the action plan for 3 years |
Institution Building Advisor |
AYLA President, Vice-President Members of Board and staff members, active members and volunteers of AYLA (AYLA Central Office in Yerevan) |
June 13 2003 |
1 day | |
| 5 | Elaboration of the Draft strategic plan of AYLA | AYLA Vice-President |
June16 – August 15, 2003 |
2 months | ||
| 6 | Counseling aimed at improvement of the Draft Strategic Plan of AYLA | Institution Building Advisor |
August 16- 22, 2003 |
1 week |
||
| 7 |
Discussion of the Draft Strategic Plan of AYLA with participation of all the interested members in Yerevan
|
AYLA President |
Active members and volunteers of AYLA Yerevan Branch (AYLA Central Office in Yerevan) |
August 22- September 2 2003 |
10 days | |
| 8 | Discussion of the Draft Strategic Plan of AYLA with participation of all the interested members in the regional branches |
AYLA Vice-President and Board Members
|
Active members and volunteers of AYLA regional Branches (AYLA regional Offices in Kapan, Goris, Gavar, Ijevan, Vanadzor and Gyumri) |
August 22- September 2 2003 |
10 days | |
| 9 |
Final discussion and adoption of the Draft Strategic Plan of AYLA by the General Meeting of the organization
|
AYLA President, Institution Building Advisor |
AYLA Board and staff members, active members and volunteers (The Writers’ Creative House in Tsaghkadzor) |
September5-6 2003 |
2 days | |
| 10 | Finalizing of the Draft Strategic Plan of AYLA |
AYLA President
|
September 8-November 6 2003 |
2 onths | ||
| 11 | Approval of AYLA Strategic Plan | AYLA Board | AYLA President, Vice-President and Board Members (AYLA Central Office in Yerevan) |
December 9 2003 |
1 day | |
| Total | 6 onths | |||||