LEADERSHIPS MAKE CHANGES TO RA LAW ON NGOS: NGOS SOUND ALARM
Tert
Oct 30 2009
Armenia
On September 23, the Armenian government adopted a decision to make
changes to the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations. President
of Protection of Consumers’ Rights NGO Abgar Eghoyan, Internews NGO
attorney Movses Hakobyan and Transparency International Anti-Corruption
Centre board member Sona Ayvazayan referred to this topic during
their meeting with journalists today.
According to Ayvazyan, the decision was once again adopted secretly,
while the changes are threatening for non-governmental organizations.
She thinks that the changes in the law don’t ensure transparency of
organizations’ activities, but "simply create financial difficulties,
add administrative work once again and ensure state bodies’
intervention in NGOs’ activities."
During the press conference, the other participants stated that the
whole process was carried out in an unprofessional and not transparent
way. They also stated the importance of NGOs’ roles in the process
of developing legal acts.
The participants also stated that the decision to make changes to
the law was explained by the fact that "certain NGOs" requested the
changes. Rights defenders state they "would like to know which are
those NGOs."