Municipality Event 1

Seminar/Workshop:
Title of event: Workshop on “Ecology and we”
Date, Location, and Length: 17 April 2010, Town Abovyan, N 1 School, 4 hours
Total number of speakers:  5

• Gayane Hovakimyan:  Chairwoman,  
• Narine Solomonyan Introduction of AC Armenia and CABIR,   AC member , Constitutional court, senior specialist, university teacher of ecological law
• Marat Atovmyan, “Ecological problems from a  human rights prospective”  AC member, Director of Kotayk center of advocacy and assistance
• Spartak Khacatryan, “Ecological problems and  international treaties, obligations for Armenia”,  Constitutional court, senior specialist, assistant to the member of constitutional court, Expert on ecological law  
• Sevil  Hanesyan, school principle

Most relevant questions/answers: The event was organized according to the work plan of AC 2010.  In March started preparative meetings and visits to Abovyan local municipality and school N1 where the event took place. These affairs were directed to the establishment of partnership and cooperation between municipal authorities and the Alumni Council.  The agenda was drafted in consultation with local municipalities and government authorities taking into account both urgent ecological needs of Armenia and the region. The format of the event was innovative: the event gathered experts, university students, school personnel and school pupils and was very stimulating especially for the young generation, who could make their presentations and ask questions. The speakers presented urgent ecological problems and their influence on the population:  Mr Atovmyan replied to the question about the direct influence of ecological problems on our lives. He raised the issue of exploitive food from ecologically dangerous districts and its direct influence on health and on the rights of consumers, as well human rights as rights to health and life. There was a question about the legal status of ecological rights and the experts replied that many countries had constitutional doctrines on ecological rights and they expressed their view to adopt this concept in Armenian legislation as well. Other questions centered on the problem of Lake Sevan.  Mr. Khachatryan gave a detailed answer on what the risks of the lake were and how they could be minimized, if the government took appropriate measures. Ms. Solomonyan spoke about voluntary work of young people that could help create a better environment. She described the ecological project initiated by her and university students. Students also stressed the importance of public participation in the solution of ecological problems. Some pupils asked about the absence of a water supply system in the town: and said this was the reason why any trees planting action was at risk in the district. The speakers suggested to the school personnel and pupils to apply jointly to the municipal authorities and to raise their concerns about the problem. Explaining that this could become their first activity on the protection of ecological rights. School personal introduced activities and disciplines that were carried out within the school. Pupils also commented on their wishes and further activities. Taking into account needs of the school for books, journals on ecology, maps and other methodical materials, the AC   donated some to the school library.   The school personnel and pupils   expressed their gratitude for the event and the wish to have more of such events in the region on different themes. The pupils were very much motivated.  During the break an active discussion was held on different issues and possible proposals for further partnership and cooperation between the participants.
Purpose: The event had the goal to increase public awareness on ecological rights and ecology in general, to encourage young generation to take care of their environment,  increase  civil responsibility, and  raise their knowledge and motivation to  take  appropriate measures in that direction. The event succeeded in its goal.   The first follow up was the   “clear environment action round the school” and pupils’ papers on the topic.
Total Number of Participants: 53
CABIR Alumni: 3
Municipality officials: 3
Experts from governmental organization: 1
Media: 1
NGOs: 2
School personnel: 12
University students 6
School pupils: 25

Municipality Event 2

Author: Gayane Hovakimyan
Type of event:  Action for raising civil participation and promoting human rights NGOs in Lori Municipality
Date, Location, and Length: 28,, November  2010 Spitak branch of Helsinki association, Spitak, Lori Region, 3 hours
Total number of speakers: 3

• Gayane Hovakimyan - Chairwoman  – AC Municipalities manager, Senior specialist MJ of RA

• Marat Atovmyan - AC human rights manager, head of Yerevan office of  AAC “Human rights organizations at national level and their development: practical aspects”” 
• Eline Kxazaryan- Local expert  “Obstacles and main problems  civil organizations encounter at  municipal level”

Most relevant questions/answers:
The event was organized within the established partnership with Lori Municipality and the Helsinki association. It was an event  aimed at  fostering capacity building and strengthening the local activities of the civil society organizations. The event included meetings with municipal officials, a workshop on capacity building and charity which were described from  a technical assistance’s prospective.  Spitak branch of Helsinki association is a young organization  which still  lacks  experience, and a network  of professional experts. Taking into account the organization’s needs  the workshop provided an overview on the methodology to  developing a civil organization. The issue of creating partnership with local and regional organizations, was also explored.
Mr. Atovmyan introduced the experience of organizations with similar activities and interests and shared  information and contact details of relevant potential partners. Mrs Hovakimyan spoke also about donor organizations and the possibility to   establish partnership with them. 
Mrs. Kxazaryan introduced some of the main issues facing  civil organization in the region. The speakers provided  detailed information  and shared  their skills and expertise to overcome  those obstacles. One of the practical advices was  to set up good relationships with community and to organize actions that would attract young enthusiasts. The organization  enlisted among  the technical problems  lack of internet connection. CABIR Alumni provided a modem and a  card for  internet connection which could be used  for two months and serve as a  measure to overcome technical problems and thus develop activities.
Speakers also provided guidelines to obtain  donors’ funding   to prolong  internet access. Mr Atovmyan expressed his willingness to provide professional assistance and advocacy in the  human rights field.
The organization also got some materials, manuals and stationary.
Purpose: The event had the goal to strengthen the capacities of young civil society organizations at municipality level  and to establishing  partnership with them, with the aim of raising their capacities, expand their resources, knowledge and skills  on advocacy and human right protection.
Total number of participants: 34
CABIR Alumni: 4
Municipality officials: 8
Experts from governmental organization: 1
NGOs: 21