Fight against corruption is not only the objective of authorities but of the society as well. It is necessary to join the efforts of the civil society organizations and mass media to fight against corruption effectively.
“The international experience shows that this starts from the motion of the civil society: generally the organized groups of the civil society try to bring their voice to the power,” Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Young lawyers Association, “Multi-Faceted Anti-Corruption Promotion” Project Manager said.
The Armenian Young Lawyers Association in cooperation with its partner Freedom of Information has launched the “Multi-Faceted Anti-Corruption Promotion” project with financial support of the European Union. This time the awareness seminar was organized in the capital city.
It is planned to organize anti-corruption training for the CSOs and media organizations in the framework of project. Further, the CSOs and media organizations that have completed the training will have the opportunity to participate in tenders for small grants to undertake monitoring, watchdog activities and journalistic investigations; create the CSOs’ anti-corruption coalition aimed to establish a dialogue with the government on the establishment of the independent anti-corruption body and on criminalization of the illicit enrichment.
“European Union very much welcomes the fact that civil society organizations and media are directing more and more efforts to tackle the anti-corruption issues, both on national and local level,” Ms Dagna Lewandowska, representative of the European Union Delegation to Armenia said.
Mrs. Shushan Doydoyan, President of Freedom of Information center believes that no unrealistic objectives will be planned under the project. It is not possible to eliminate corruption from Armenia completely by this action; however it is necessary to bring the views of the civil society to the attention of the Government and to make it an issue for the discussion.
