Current Projects
"Human Rights Education for rural communities" |
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Funded by: |
U.S. Department of State, US Embassy in Yerevan |
Project managerr: |
Tatevik Matinyan |
Project Duration: |
3 months, November 1, 2008 – January 31, 2009 |
Total grant amount: |
7.128 USD |
In September 2008 YCDI NGO was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of State and US Embassy in Yerevan for the implementation of a project titled “Human Rights Education for rural communities”.
Within framework of the project YCDI NGO is aiming at educating and training community young leaders through this project in 6 communities (Akhtala, Odzun, Marts, Gargar, Vahagni and Margahovit) of Lori region on the concept of human rights and also national and international mechanisms of human rights protection. As a result of the training the participants will obtain skills on the implementation of human rights protection mechanisms.
"Advocacy Campaign for the Sake of Green Vanadzor" |
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Funded by: |
Northern Branch of "NGO Center", Counterpart International (CPI)/Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP) and United States Agency for I nternational Development (USAID) |
Project managerr: |
Edmon Marukyan |
Project Duration: |
6 months, August 2008 - January 2009 |
Total grant amount: |
3.334.500 AMD |
In August 2008, YCDI NGO was awarded an advocacy grant from the Northern Branch of "NGO Center", Counterpart International (CPI)/Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the implementation of a project titled "Advocacy Campaign for the Sake of Green Vanadzor".
Through the organization of advocacy campaign and mobilization of associates, YCDI NGO aims to achieve the inclusion of such an item in the triennial development program of the Vanadzor community, which instates the state registration of rights towards the perennial trees located in the administrative territory of the Vanadzor community by ensuring their fundamental legislative protection from illegal tree-cuttings. The indirect goal of the project implementation is to protect the green zones of Vanadzor.
"Human Rights Law Clinic" at the |
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Funded by: |
"Youth Center for Democratic Initiatives" NGO contribution |
Project managerr: |
Edmon Marukyan |
Project Duration: |
2006 - current |
The "Human Rights Law Clinic" (HRLC) has been established by the "Youth Center for Democratic Initiatives" NGO (YCDI) in April 2006. The aim of HRLC is to assist in the processes of human rights protection and education by using possibilities of comparative jurisprudence and preparing lawyers of new generation. HRLC general activities are coordinated by the Expert Group, which is comprised of representatives of well known right-protective NGOs and independent lawyers/experts. The teaching curriculum of HRLC is designed by the support and immediate assistance of the Expert Group. The HRLC lecturing staff consists of members of the Expert Group as well as of invited independent professionals.
The goals of HRLC are as follows:
- To train final year law students by transferring theoretical and practical knowledge to the latter, as well as human right protection skills for acting on national and international levels,
- To carry out a comparative analysis of different fields of RA and European legislations regarding human rights and basic freedoms and to submit recommendations to the RA legislator,
- To provide with free legal consulting to people applying to HRLC, whose rights and basic freedoms were presumably violated by state officials and/or local self-government authorities.
Implemented projects
"Youth Initiatives for Democratic Elections" |
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Funded by: |
Northern Branch of "NGO Center", Counterpart International (CPI)/Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) |
Project managerr: |
Tatevik Matinyan |
Project Duration: |
2 months, September 15 - November 15, 2008 |
Total grant amount: |
3.105.400 AMD |
In September 2008, YCDI NGO was awarded an elections grant from the Northern Branch of "NGO Center", Counterpart International (CPI)/Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the implementation of a project titled “Youth Initiatives for Democratic Elections”.
The aim of the project is to raise the role and the level of participation of young people living in 10 small communities of Lori Region and in the town of Vanadzor, during the upcoming elections of bodies of local self-governance in 2008, by means of developing the deployment of the mechanisms of civic supervision by the youth.
"Human Rights Protection in 6 Communities of Lori Region" |
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Funded by: |
International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) |
Project managerr: |
Tatev Matinyan, ECA Alumnus and Chairperson of YCDI NGO |
Project Duration: |
8 months, December 2006 - July 2007 |
Total grant amount: |
$11.872 US |
The chairperson of YCDI NGO Tatevik Matinyan, being an alumnus of Freedom Support Act Undergraduate Program, was awarded a professional development grant by IREX in December 2006. The grant was provided to implement a project entitled "Human Rights Protection in 6 Communities of Lori Region". The project was carried out by immediate support of YCDI NGO specialists and by the use of its technical base.
The main goal of the project was to assist the inhabitants of 4 villages and 2 towns of Lori Region in the protection of their rights and basic freedoms by the means of provision of informational and legal support. Within the frames of the project legal consulting in Akhtala and Tumanyan as well as in the villages of Aqori, Odzun, Margahovit and Dsegh was being delivered. Three receptions have been held every month, thrice visiting each community during the whole project duration. Complains and applications have been prepared and sent to different court instances and right protective institutions operating in RA and abroad. Court representation has been carried out by YCDI NGO specialists on an as needed basis. Consequently, the degree of protection of the community population as well as their awareness regarding the privileges and rights guaranteed by the state was raised.
Thus, by the end of the project, demand for legal support has been formed in the communities. Measures have been implemented towards development of further cooperation with the local authorities.
"Anti-smoking campaign in Vanadzor" |
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Funded by: |
Within a framework of grants for non-governmental organizations provided from RA state budget, by the support of "Center of Public Dialogues and Development" |
Project coordinator: |
Tatev Matinyan |
Project Duration: |
6 months, October 20 2006 - April 20 2007 |
Total grant amount: |
3.630.000 AMD |
In October 2006, YCDI NGO was awarded an advocacy grant within the frameworks of grants for non-governmental organizations provided from RA State budget, in assistance with the "Center of Public Dialogues and Development" for the implementation of a project titled "Anti-smoking campaign in Vanadzor".
Within the frameworks of the project the owners of the companies of public transportation and taxi services, as well as small shops/kiosks runners selling cigarettes, have been informed about the mentioned law. Warning posters with legally defined prescriptions have been published, which were distributed among the outlets selling cigarettes and services of public transportation, thus assisting them to properly implement requirements of the law. Letters have been sent to coffee-shops, restaurants, internet clubs and game zones operating in Vanadzor, informing them about the clause of the law stating that separated places must be created for smokers. The presented subject matter has been justified by law, as well as from the standpoint of Human Rights and business ethics, clearly stating that the implementation of the law is in their interest. Round table/discussions have been conducted for interested NGOs of Vanadzor aiming to create "NGO Anti-smoking Coalition".
Thus, by the implementation of this project, YCDI NGO aimed to raise public awareness on requirements and regulations of RA law "About the restrictions of cigarette distribution, consumption and use" and assist to the application of the law in Vanadzor through the public surveillance.
"Civic Surveillance for Protection of Human Rights" |
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Funded by: |
Northern Branch of "NGO Center", Counterpart International (CPI)/Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) |
Project manager: |
Edmon Marukyan |
Project Duration: |
8 months, August 2005-March 2007 |
Total grant amount: |
5.869.800 AMD |
In August 2006, YCDI NGO was awarded an advocacy grant from the Northern Branch of "NGO Center", Counterpart International (CPI)/Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the implementation of a project titled "Civic Surveillance for Protection of Human Rights".
Within the frameworks of the project civic monitoring visits have been carried out in criminal-executive institutions (CEI) under the jurisdiction of the RA Ministry of Justice and ten detention centers (DC) under the jurisdiction of the RA Police operating in three regions of RA, namely Lori Region: Vanadzor, Spitak, Stepanavan, Tashir, Tumanyan, Tavush Region: Ijevan, Noyemberyan, Dilijan and Shirak Region: Gyumri, Akhuryan, Artik. The visits have been organized in collaboration with Public Monitoring Groups that supervise the CEIs and DCs under the jurisdictions of the RA Ministry of Justice and the RA Police respectively. Two visits have been paid to each CEI and DC: during the initial (preliminary visits) and intermediate (recap visit) periods of the project implementation. The purpose of the visits was to observe the situation in the CEIs and DCs in the regions of Lori, Tavush and Shirak, develop and submit reports to the Public Monitoring Groups supervising the CEIs and DCs under the jurisdictions of the RA Ministry of Justice and the RA Police respectively.
YCDI NGO was also intending to increase the legal-consciousness of detainees, arrestees and their relatives through provision of legal consulting within the frameworks of this project. The detainees, arrestees and their relatives have received leaflets containing information about this project, contacts of Public Monitoring Group members, as well as covering the basic rights of arrestees and detainees.
During the project implementation steps have been taken towards significantly increasing the interest of NGOs, Mass Media and other interested parties, as well as the general public, regarding the situation in the CEIs and DCs of Lori, Tavush and Shirak Regions.
Thus, by the implementation of this project, a major change of situation in the custodies of RA Ministry of Justice and RA Police in Lori, Tavush and Shirak Regions was achieve, attempting to eliminate unhealthy practices. In particular, it measures have been implemented to improve the conditions to meet with the requirements of RA law "about the custody of detainees and arrestees" and the international conventions ratified by Armenia.
"Human rights protection mechanisms" ECA Alumni Small Grant Project |
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Funded by: |
International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) |
Project manager: |
Tatev Matinyan, ECA Alumnus and Chairperson of YCDI NGO |
Project Duration: |
7 months, April-November 2005 |
Total grant amount: |
$7.775 US |
The chairperson of YCDI NGO Tatev Matinyan, being an alumnus of Freedom Support Act Undergraduate Program, was awarded a professional development grant by IREX in April 2005. The grant was provided to implement a project called "Human rights protection mechanisms". The project was being implemented by immediate support of YCDI specialists by using its technical assistance.
A survey in 4 towns of Lori region (Vanadzor, Alaverdi, Stepanavan and Spitak) was conducted within the frameworks of the current present project. The total of 630 respondents was surveyed. The project specialists visited the above mentioned towns for several times and provided legal and right-protective consulting for all cases of violations of human rights. After analyzing and summarizing the survey results a list of most frequent violated and most important Human Rights was identified based on the public opinion. Succeeding programmatic steps in all towns basing on the results of survey in the particular town live TV broadcasts (each broadcast will be dedicated to 3 of the identified frequent violations) have been organized. During the broadcasts the legal acts regulating the particular legal sphere have been presented. Invited specialists have explained the population how to protect their own rights as well as provided information about the mechanisms and bodies where people could apply for reestablishing violated rights.
The last stage of the project consisted of publication an informational brochure, which contained the results of the sociological survey - list of most frequently violated rights as well as brief legal guideline for citizens covering the mechanisms of protection of their own rights and basic freedoms and in cases of their violation the methods and steps for reestablishing those.
Thus, by the implementation of this project, the sense of justice and right-protection power of the population was raised, which would allow them to be more knowledgeable and capable in protection of their rights.
Planned Projects
International Network - Young Right-protectors of Caucasus
Currently YCDI NGO plans to implement a multilateral project of International Network - Young Right-Protectors of Caucasus. Creation of a Network of Young Right-protectors of Caucasus has a global goal: join the resources and forces of all Caucasian youth for cooperation in implementing right-protective activities, establishing democracy in Caucasus region, searching and finding means of solution of common problems in the field of human rights. Creation of the network will give us an opportunity to join our forces and struggle together for the sake of democratization of our countries and creation of civil society in those. The project is also intending to activate the dialog among the youth of the Caucasus.
This project is in the stage of development so we will be more than happy to receive your comments and proposals for partnership in its implementation.