The Law on Non-Governmental Organizations has numerous innovations and a number of commitments for NGOs. The state has given NGOs time till February 4 of the next year to harmonize their statutes with the new law and register them in the State Register of Legal Entities.
“Of course, this does not mean that after February 4 sanctions will be imposed on NGOs, which would not have updated their statutes before that. However, I think that after that state fees will be set,” Mr. Marat Atovmyan, Lawyer/ Incubators; Coordinator of the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project said during the training-discussion on innovations of the law.
It should be noted that the training for NGO representatives is implemented within the framework of the EU-funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project. The project also provides free legal advice and support.
“The training is effective as all the innovations we are required to know were presented in affordable way. And it is notable not only the fact of organization of such a training, but also that we can get feedback, contact in case we have a problem and solve that problem in practice,” Ms Lilit Hovhannisyan, representative of the “Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression” NGO said.
Mr. Suren Mkhitaryan, representative of the “Center for Intercultural Studies, Training and Dialogue” NGO, project manager for social entrepreneurship development in Armenia, mentioned that legislative issues are being raised during this discussion.
“There are still provisions in the law that need clarification. We are engaged in the development of social entrepreneurship and the law also provides for the right of NGOs to engage in entrepreneurship, and there has been a discussion on this issue, and there would be such discussions later as well…” Mr. Suren Mkhitaryan said.
It should be noted that trainings and free legal consultations are held in Yerevan, Shirak, Syunik, Lori and Gegharkunik regions are conducted in the scope of the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project, which 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.
