From now on, NGOs will have the opportunity to learn about new changes in the law on NGOs, and to harmonize their activities with the requirements of the legal act.
The training for NGOs was launched today in the scope of the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” action, which is implemented with the financial support of the European Union.
Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association conducts the training.
On 16 December 2016, the RA NA adopted the New Law of the Republic of Armenia on Public Organizations (NGO Law), which came into force on 4 February, 2017. The law includes a number of innovations as well as problematic norms.
The first training on the new law was held in Gyumri, for Shirak Marz NGOs.
“The new law has a provision which states that if the NGOs’ statute is inconsistent to the law, it should be brought in compliance within one year. Actually, all organizations need to re-register by 4 February, 2018. This is the most important factor to remember, because actually all NGOs’ statutes will not comply with the law, which contains a lot of amendments,” Karen Zadoyan said.
He explained that a number of important principles have been introduced in the law. “Integrity is priority. Although, while writing the law, they did not imagine well, what is the essence of integrity, because it is intended as a principle. And then mentioned accountability, while integrity includes accountability as well,” ALA President emphasized.
The law also stipulates a provision on non-discrimination, “We must be very vigilant. At the request of the European Union Armenia has undertaken the obligation on non-discrimination and is adopting legislation, among them legislation on violence against women, so discrimination a very important principle, and there should not be any discrimination NGOs.”
Volunteerism is established as a principle as well. Mr. Zadoyan reminded that it was applied in the past as well, but currently the entire legislative area has been completed and specified.
One of the important provisions of the new amendments is the opportunity for the self-financing capacity, in other words, the regulation of the entrepreneurship practice. “There are many risks here. I have had various discussions over three months with the public sector as well as with the expert lawyers of the field. We have learned that the field is completely undeveloped, that is, changes that especially large NGOs were awaiting include risks,” Mr. Zadoyan said. At the same time the risks are conditioned with the taxation. “The law provides that the organization should keep separate records, so that it later reflected in the reports submitted to the tax authorities,” Mr. Zadoyan said.
In addition to training, ALA President provided individual counseling to the representatives of NGOs who wanted to learn details about the new changes and had private matters.
Notably, the training is conducted in the scope of the Europe Days.
The “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union by the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO in cooperation with its partners; Agora Central Europe o.p.s (an NGO from the Czech Republic), Armenian Center for Democratic Education-CIVITAS, “International Center for Human Development” Public Organization, SME Cooperation Association and Union of Communities of Armenia.
Gevorg Tosunyan
Aleksander Sargsyan
