IN THIS ISSUE:
*** ROA MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL ISSUES RAISES NGOS’ AWARENESS ON SOCIAL
SECURITY CARDS SYSTEM
*** ARMENIA’S FIRST “ONE-STOP SHOP” FOR SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIALLY OPENED IN
VANADZOR
*** NGO CODE OF STANDARDS CREATED
*** SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
*** CENTER FOR COMMUNITY DIALOGUES AND INITIATIVES FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
*** HEALTHY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
*** NGO BRUSSELS STATEMENT
*** ROA MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL ISSUES RAISES NGOS’ AWARENESS ON SOCIAL
SECURITY CARDS SYSTEM
On March 10, 2004, the AAA NGO Training and Resource Center hosted a meeting
of NGO representatives with the ROA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues
Working Group Implementing the Social Security Cards System in Armenia. The
objective was to raise the awareness of participating NGOs on the system, so
that later they could improve the knowledge of their beneficiaries on the
benefits of the social security card in combating corruption in Armenia.
During the meeting, the Ministry representative Artem Asatryan outlined the
Social Security Card system and explained its advantages. Artem Asatryan
said, “The introduction of the Social Security Cards (SSCs) will increase
the efficiency of state government activities. The program will have a
beneficial influence on the activities of benefit payments, taxation,
payment of customs duties, the administration of Armenia’s system of social
security and insurance and other sectors. All those present were provided
with public education materials (Q&A brochures on SSCs and new pension
system, leaflets on pension age in Armenia and pension reforms) to
distribute among their beneficiaries. These materials are available at the
Pensions Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues.
Contact: Artem Asatryan
ROA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues
Government Building #3
Tel.: (374-1) 56-42-10
*** ARMENIA’S FIRST “ONE-STOP SHOP” FOR SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIALLY OPENED IN
VANADZOR
Since March 29, 2004, the Integrated Social Services Center (ISSC) has been
functioning in Vanadzor, allowing citizens to apply for social services in
one location. The Center was created jointly by the Ministry of Labor and
Social Issues and the USAID-funded Armenia Social Transition Project (ASTP),
PADCO, Inc. The structures providing services at the ISSC are:
State Social Insurance Fund, where citizens can apply for pensions and
employers pay social insurance contributions for employees;
Regional Social Service Agency, where families can apply for social
assistance, humanitarian assistance, Poverty Family Benefit and Lump Sum
Assistance payments;
National Employment and Labor Agency, where the unemployed can receive
unemployment benefits, apply to job announcements, and where customers can
also enroll in training opportunities;
Social Medical Expertise Commission, where persons with disabilities can
apply for medical examinations which may qualify them for disability
pensions;
NGO Gateway, uniting more than 30 NGOs in Vanadzor, which provides
services for the vulnerable, elderly, refugees, and others who need advice
and information. An NGO representative in the reception area will provide
information and assistance to citizens who have a need, but may not qualify
for state benefits and require additional services that state social service
offices cannot provide.
There are plans to created similar Integrated Social Service Centers in
Masis and Etchmiadzinin in the near future.
Contact: Armenia Social Transition Project (ASTP), PADCO, Inc. 14 Sundukian
St.
Tel: (374-1) 27-31-75; 27-31-76; 27-31-79; 27-27-85
E-mail: [email protected]
*** NGO CODE OF STANDARDS CREATED
On February 26, 2004, Tekeyan Cultural Center hosted the presentation of the
Code of Standards for Armenian NGOs. The Code of Standards was developed by
a working group of Yerevan-based and regional NGOs with technical and
financial support provided by World Learning through USAID. Taking into
account international experience, the Code initiators intend to formally
establish the basis and standards of practice which will enable Armenian
NGOs perform their representative and progressive functions in advocating
for the interests of communities and civil society. Among those invited were
representatives of NGOs, the donor community, Armenian government officials
and mass media. The authors of the document introduced issues highlighted in
the document, including Mission; Leadership; Legal Conformity; Conflict of
Interests; Financial Accountability; Human Resources; Fundraising
Activities; Transparency; Involvement in State Policy; Partnership and
Alliances; and Information Management. It is anticipated that the Code of
Standards will serve as a guide for NGOs in strategic planning and
evaluation processes and contribute to the strengthening of the sector and
raising its role in society.
Contact:
Levon Nersisyan
Astghik Union of Disabled Children’s Parents
Tel: (374-1) 57-51-85
E-mail: [email protected]
Gayane Akulyan Dashink NGO
E-mail: [email protected]
*** SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
The Women’s Forum NGO’s Sexual Harassment in the Workplace project is
currently underway in Yerevan, Gyumri,Vanadzor, Ashtarak and Kotayk cities
with the financial assistance of World Learning. The goal of this project is
to contribute to the prevention of violence towards women in Armenia,
promotion of women’s participation at all levels of public relations as full
members of society and ensuring legal protection of their rights and
interests. After revealing the urgency of the problem, the NGO conducted a
number of roundtables with employed and unemployed women of the cities
mentioned, various NGO representatives, and managers of business and
government sectors. Printed materials on the problem were disseminated
during these events and meetings. Articles were published in the press, a
video clip and programs were aired on TV and radio, and a press conference
was held. Packages have been also developed and presented to Heads of
National Assembly factions, Chairmen of Committees and the relevant Deputy
Group.
One of the main activities of the project is developing suggestions to the
currently discussed draft ROA Labor Code. Designed to protect the labor
rights and legal interests of women in Armenia, the suggestions are already
included in the draft Code and will be heard soon, during the Draft’s first
hearing in the National Assembly.
Contact:
Lilit Avetisyan
Women’s Forum NGO
Tel: (374-1) 58-99-36; 58-13-81
E-mail: [email protected]
*** CENTER FOR COMMUNITY DIALOGUES AND INITIATIVES FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
On March 26, 2004, the presentation of the newly created Center for
Community Dialogues and Initiatives (CCDI) NGO was held. Through its
Citizens’ Awareness and Participation in Armenia project, implemented with
the assistance of IFES and USAID, CCDI will contribute to the formation and
development of civil society. CCDI trainers carry out the following
activities in eight regions of Armenia: training, consultancy, raising the
population’s awareness on the current legislation, elections monitoring,
organizing public forums and discussions, events intended to protect
citizens’ interests, voluntary actions, professional development of young
people, cultural events, research, and providing library resources.
Contact:
Haykaz Karapetyan
Center for Community Dialogues and Initiatives (CCDI) NGO
8 Tumanyan St.
Tel: (374-9) 40-09-53; 45-31-55
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** HEALTHY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Future Generation Union’s three-year-long “Well Informed, Empowered,
Responsible and Healthy Communities” project is currently being implemented
in nine villages of Armavir Marz, with the financial assistance of the
Netherlands NOVIB organization. The goal of the project is to contribute to
the betterment of health of community members through increasing their
health awareness and health conditions. The Healthy Communities Foundation
has been established and has nine branches and Community Resource Centers,
replenished with health-related literature in their libraries and modern
communications technologies. Through these Resource Centers, healthcare
awareness training sessions will be conducted for community members; topics
will include health rights, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, HIV/AIDS and
other STIs, Recently, the Future Generation NGO announced a grants program
among these communities to solve the their prioritized problems.
Infrastructure of the nine villages will be improved by laying pipelines or
repairing health-posts or school buildings. The project activities will also
be expanded throughout nine other communities in Armavir. The Revolving Drug
Fund model will be applied here to improve health conditions of community
members by providing medicines and medical services. Preventive health
screening services will be provided to low-income community members, and
appropriate treatment to some of them.
Contact:
Rafayel Vardanyan
Future Generation Union NGO
61/7 Marshal Baghramyan Ave.
Tel: (374-1) 26-46-33
E-mail: [email protected]
*** NGO BRUSSELS STATEMENT
The Women for Green Way for Generations, Armenian Women for Health and
Healthy Environment, Future Generation Union and Lore Eco-Club NGOs made an
announcement on the NGO Brussels Statement, developed in December 2003 in
Brussels during the NGO Strategy Meeting: Making the Environment Work for
Our Children’s Health conference. The event brought together 70
representatives from 50 international, European and national environmental
and health citizens organizations, during which representatives discussed
their ideas, demands and suggestions for the Ministerial Conference on
Environment and Health to be held in Budapest in June 2004. The NGO Brussels
Statement will be followed up with an NGO and Civil Society Declaration to
be presented in Budapest. The statement covers various issues primarily
concerning genetically modified organisms, chemicals, water and food, air
pollution, sustainable development strategy, role of health professionals,
etc. For more information on the statement, visit the
website or contact the following
Armenian NGOs:
Karine Manukyan of Women for Green Way to Generations NGO
E-mail: [email protected]
Karine Grigoryan of Future Generation Union NGO
E-mail: [email protected]
Elena Manvelyan of Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment
NGO
E-mail: [email protected]
Andranik Melikjanyan – Lore Eco-Club NGO
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
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the NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is
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