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Armenian NGO News in Brief - 03/24/2004

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  • Armenian NGO News in Brief - 03/24/2004

    ARMENIAN NGONEWS IN BRIEF

    Volume 2, No. 52
    January-February, 2005


    *** EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE

    *** DICTIONARY OF ARMENIAN SIGN LANGUAGE PUBLISHED

    *** VETERINARY ASSISTANCE TO VILLAGE COMMUNITIES

    *** NGOS MONITOR ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

    *** CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES IN ROA MARZES

    *** ARMENIA DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY PORTAL: IMPLEMENTATION PHASE YEAR II

    *** WEBSITE OF THE ROA ECONOMIC COURT WAS CREATED

    *** GYUMRI YOUTH ISSUES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT



    *** EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE

    On January 27, 2005, the Association of Investigative Journalists NGO
    addressed the issue of street people. Photographs taken by their
    photojournalist and the Nameless Tombs documentary were presented, showing
    the everyday life of street people. Yerkir-Media TV Company and Association
    of Investigative Journalists NGO produced the documentary. The goal was to
    draw the attention of the Government, international structures and the
    public-at-large to the problems faced by street people and beggars and seek
    support (food and shelter) for them. Results included: financial assistance
    from the USA, material assistance from Yerevan, and medical assistance,
    which will be provided to all of the street people in Yerevan, by three
    physicians from the USA. The action contributed to the ROA Government's
    reviewing the draft Law on Social Support. The Law will take force in 2006.
    However, as stated by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Issues,
    providing street people with shelter may be realized now in case of relevant
    financial assistance.

    Contact: Edik Baghdasaryan
    Association of Investigative Journalists NGO
    2 Mashtots Ave., #40
    Tel.: 56-31-49
    E-mail: [email protected]


    *** DICTIONARY OF ARMENIAN SIGN LANGUAGE PUBLISHED

    This dictionary has been developed through the efforts of the Kamk and Korov
    NGO of Young Disabled, with funding support received from OXFAM. The
    dictionary will play an important role in improving the quality of education
    for those with hearing impairments. Better application of signs will
    contribute to the beneficiaries' easier integration into and communication
    with society. It will also help educate the public-at-large on these
    opportunities. Young people with hearing impairments translators for the
    deaf and dumb, and pedagogues of the deaf and dumb participated in the
    development of the dictionary. The dictionary is also a training handbook,
    certified by the National Institute of Education of the ROA Ministry of
    Education and Science. The dictionary is intended for professors and
    students of the Defectology Department of the Armenian State Pedagogical
    University, those employees of special and secondary schools, who interact
    with children with hearing impairments, their parents and the
    public-at-large. The Dictionary of Armenian Gesture Language contains 1,118
    signs, classified by topics. The signs are presented by photographs and word
    explanations.

    Contact: Mary Pahutyan
    Kamk and Korov NGO Of Young Disabled
    69 Y. Koghbatsi St.
    Tel.: (374-1) 53-85-41, 53-85-23
    E-mail: [email protected]


    *** VETERINARY ASSISTANCE TO VILLAGE COMMUNITIES

    On January 31, the Strategic Development Agency NGO presented the findings
    of its recently completed Basic Veterinary Services Model project. The
    program goal was to assist farmers of Syunik's Noravan village community in
    contributing to the food safety and development of the livestock sector. A
    local veterinary service center was supplied with the necessary equipment,
    medicines and a veterinarian.. The center carries out mandatory and ad hoc
    preventive and medical activities. A revolving drug fund was created
    enabling the farmers to utilize services of the veterinarian, free of
    charge. Instead of the planned 30% community participation, 66% involvement
    was registered. The project results are apparent: improved sanitary and
    hygiene conditions of cattle-sheds, possible prevention of parasitical
    diseases (particularly those transferred from animals to people), and more.
    Based on the gaps revealed during one year of the project implementation and
    specific needs of the village community, the NGO plans to apply its
    successful experience in other communities of the republic as well,
    replenishing the project with a number of new components. The project was
    financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

    Contact: Karina Harutiunyan
    Strategic Development Agency NGO
    29 Khanjyan St., #8
    Tel.: (374-1) 54-09-96
    E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]


    *** NGOS MONITOR ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

    On February 16 and 18, the second sessions of the Protection of Economic
    Competition (preventing anti-monopoly and conflict of interest) and the
    Healthcare working groups of the ROA Commission on Anti-Corruption Strategy
    Monitoring were held. The first working group unites 17 NGOs and the second
    27. Representatives of interested departments and the ROA Ministry of Health
    participated in the sessions. Draft laws on the Protection of Economic
    Competition and Healthcare were presented and plans of the NGO working
    groups for the first half-year of 2005 were discussed. Activities of the
    working groups include: implementing anti-corruption strategy and monitoring
    implementation of departmental anti-corruption projects; studying the
    experiences of international organizations in anti-corruption efforts,
    developing suggestions to improve the mechanisms used, conducting expert
    review of legislative drafts, suggesting amendments and submitting those to
    the Commission on Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring.

    Contact: Abgar Yeghoyan: Commission member; Coordinator of the Protection of
    Economic Competition working group
    E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

    Greta Mirzoyan: Commission member; Coordinator of Healthcare working group
    E-mail: [email protected]

    Marianna Stepanyan: Commission exptert
    E-mail: [email protected]


    *** CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES IN ROA MARZES

    To raise the level of civic activism of the populations in Shirak and Syunik
    marzes, the A. D. Sakharov Human Rights Protection Center NGO is
    implementing the Civil Society Initiatives project, within the framework of
    which Civil Society School #2 is operating. It will function as an
    educational, consulting and resource center, increasing the professionalism
    of representatives of NGOs, mass media, local self-government and regional
    government bodies in Gyumri and Goris. The school will work towards creating
    a cooperation network of NGOs and other players of the civil society. Within
    the framework of the project, an institute of experts will be formed, which
    will reveal and analyze problems in Armenia and specific marzes. Situation
    reports and analyses on Shirak and Syunik marzes, as well as methodic
    handbooks on organizing training of NGOs will be published.

    Contact: Seyran Martirossyan
    Sakharov Human Rights Protection Center NGO
    1 Sarmen St.
    Tel.: (374-1) 58-78-64, 54-29-36
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: http://www.sakharovcentre.org


    *** ARMENIA DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY PORTAL: IMPLEMENTATION PHASE YEAR II

    The Electronic Armenia Foundation NGO (EAF: www.e?armenia.am) is launching
    the Implementation Phase II of the Armenia Development Gateway Project
    (AmDG: www.Gateway.am). The major priorities for the first six months of the
    project implementation are: AmDG portal content (Community Gateways,
    Knowledge Center, etc.) and functional development, and e-Development
    initiatives, including DG market: www.dgmarket.com localization (Armenian)
    and the BIT@E newsletter development (Russian/English). The project goal is
    to make the portal an effective information resource to contribute to
    e?Development issues and present Armenia's potential in using ICT tools.
    During project implementation, the AmDG team will again connect with its
    previous partnership network of project stakeholders, including Community
    representatives presented on the portal (State, Civil Society,
    International, Business, High-Tech and Diaspora). The project team is open
    to cooperate with all interested counterparts to enlarge the network and
    provide its target audiences with a comprehensive view on development
    opportunities in Armenia.

    Contact: Vahand Danielan
    Electronic Armenia Foundation NGO
    Tel: (374-1) 57-02-60
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: www.gateway.am


    *** WEBSITE OF THE ROA ECONOMIC COURT WAS CREATED

    The web-based information center of the Economic Court of Armenia
    http://www.economic-court.am/ was created by the Armenian Public Relations
    Association and Youth for Achievements NGOs with the assistance of the EU
    European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. The goal of the website
    is to ensure accessibility of information on management and activities of
    the judiciary system, particularly of the Economic Court, and enhance the
    efficiency and quality of the information exchange between society and the
    Economic Court. The authors of the project hope that this initiative will
    contribute to increasing public awareness on court functions and raising the
    legal awareness of the public.

    Contact: Anush Begloyan
    Armenian Public Relations Association NGO
    7 Khorenatsi St.
    Tel.: (374-1) 53-79-55
    E-mail: [email protected]

    *** GYUMRI YOUTH ISSUES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

    In response to the lack of information available for Gyumri's youth, the
    Youth for Peace and Development NGO now publishes the Youth Initiative
    bi-monthly electronic newsletter. It presents information on events taking
    place in universities, other educational institutions, cultural structures,
    NGOs and other spheres. Student journalists collect materials for the
    newsletter. The newsletter also contains creations by gifted young people of
    Gyumri. The publication is disseminated to young people throughout the
    republic. To subscribe to the newsletter send your e-mail address to
    [email protected].

    It is worth noting that the Youth for Peace and Development NGO has
    established a permanent commission to deal with youth issues and functions
    by the Gyumri Avagani (local self-governing body.) Representatives of six
    interested NGOs, members of Gyumri Avagani and state officials are
    commission members. It is their responsibility to ensure the civic
    participation of young people in decision making processes and that the
    interests of various vulnerable groups of youth are represented in local
    self-governing bodies. The two most urgent problems being addressed by the
    commission today are youth employment and providing leisure activities for
    youth.

    Contact: Hovhanness Bayburtyan
    Youth For Peace and Development NGO
    Gyumri, 4 Gayi St., #4
    Tel.: (374-41) 2-38-34
    E-mail: [email protected]


    __________________________________________________ ________________________

    Armenian NGO News in Brief is a publication of the NGO Training and Resource
    Center (NGOC) issued in the Armenian, English and Russian languages for
    electronic dissemination inside and outside Armenia. Primary funding for
    the NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is
    provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
    Individual NGOs are welcome to submit information for publication to the
    NGOC. The NGO Center is not responsible for the clarity of information
    provided by individual NGOs.

    Dear Readers,

    The not-for-profit, non-governmental sector of Armenia is rich with diverse
    civic initiatives and activities. This electronic publication, though far
    from covering all activities of the sector per any given period of time, is
    intended to contribute to raising awareness, both inside and outside
    Armenia, of the activities of Armenian not-for-profit, non-governmental
    organizations.

    Your comments and feedback about this electronic publication are greatly
    appreciated.

    Thank you.
    NGOC staff.

    Contact Information:

    In Armenia:
    Armenian Assembly of America
    NGO Training and Resource Center
    39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St., Yerevan 375010
    Tel.: (3-741) 54-40-12; 54-40-13; 53-92-04
    Fax: (3-741) 54-40-15
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: http://www.ngoc.am

    In the United States:
    Armenian Assembly of America
    NGO Training and Resource Center
    122 C Street NW, Suite 350
    Washington, DC 20001 USA
    Tel: (202) 393-3434
    Fax: (202) 638-4904
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: http://www.aaainc.org

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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