Jump to Navigation | Jump to Content
 
  |  Join ABA  |  Media  |  Contact
Advanced Search
Topics A-Z
 
Print This  | Page Feedback
Flag
Armenia
 

News

Armenian Legal Professionals Trained on European Convention on Human Rights

Armenian Legal Professionals Trained on European Convention on Human Rights

Early this month, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) organized a two-day training on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for legal practitioners based outside the capital. A total of 30 advocates, public defenders, prosecutors and investigators attended the training in Dilijan, Armenia, which focused on applying articles five and six of the ECHR. Read more »»

 

Armenian Chamber of Advocates Elects Chair, Awards Outstanding Advocates

Armenian Chamber of Advocates Elects Chair, Awards Outstanding Advocates

Earlier this month, the Armenian Chamber of Advocates re-elected Ruben Sahakyan as its chairperson during its 2009 general meeting. Nearly half of the chamber’s 800 members attended the meeting, with many of those who could not attend represented through proxy voting. Read more »»

 

Armenia Qualification Exam a Success

In 2006, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) began partnering with the Armenian Chamber of Advocates to prepare the first advocate qualification examination to be given in more than five years. This endeavor was critical in ensuring the professional capacity of the country’s lawyers.  Read more »»

 

Armenia’s Website for Legal Clinics Expands Opportunities

On January 26, 2009, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) in Armenia launched the country’s first website for legal clinics. Thanks to efforts by ABA ROLI’s legal education reform team, Armenian legal clinics, law students, professors and the public are able to obtain information on the clinics’ activities, on pro bono legal services and on legal career opportunities electronically. The website also offers online legal consultations for Armenian citizens. Read more »»

Programs

Armenian Public Defenders receive an ABA training on legal analysis and writing using the IRAC system.

With few professional resources available to defense lawyers, the criminal justice system in Armenia remains imbalanced. ABA ROLI’s criminal law reform program in Armenia seeks to support the professional development of advocates and to provide institution building guidance to the country’s first Public Defender Office. Another priority is to increase knowledge and to encourage compliance with international human rights norms, with a special focus on pre-trial detention issues, confrontation, pre-trial motion practice, inadmissibility of evidence and other related issues.

 

Public Defender Office (PDO)

In the Republic of Armenia, there has historically been no effective system for free legal defense. Typically, defense lawyers in criminal cases for the indigent have been appointed by investigators or prosecutors, with whom they have a close relationship, negating the possibility of an adequate defense. Armenia established a national Public Defender Agency (PDA) on January 1, 2006, to provide legal aid for all criminal cases and some civil cases (e.g., personal injury and alimony). The PDA, which is a subunit of the Chamber of Advocates, employs 33 public defenders throughout the country. The PDA has recently passed its operational charter and manual. ABA ROLI’s participation was key to the creation of this organization, and the criminal law program continues to provide capacity building and organizational development. In 2007–2008, ABA ROLI’s criminal law program provided the PDA’s Yerevan office and regional offices with equipment and furniture. It supported the creation of internal management policies and systems, and contributed to the development of oversight and discipline mechanisms within the PDO. It also provided continuing legal education and trainings for public defenders on new legislation (both substantive and procedural), motion practice, trial skills and appellate practice.

The criminal law program encourages monthly roundtables to allow public defenders to discuss current cases of interest, to engage with local and international experts and to consult with peers. It also provides trainings on the use of office equipment and research databases.

In addition, the criminal law program increases public awareness by creating and disseminating information regarding the PDA and human rights issues through brochures, pamphlets and public service announcements (PSAs).

In 2007–2008, ABA ROLI in Armenia released a PSA on the Public Defenders’ Office and published brochures on bail, on the rights of arrestees, on the PDO and on fair trials.

 

Legal Training

The criminal law program has been providing professional training to defense lawyers and criminal defense lawyers, which tend to be underserved with regard to professional services and support. The training addresses trial advocacy skills and substantive issues such as the European Court on Human Rights’ (ECHR) laws. In 2008, for instance, ABA ROLI provided trainings on case strategy within the ECHR.

 

Chief justices from the Armenian and Georgian supreme courts meet during April 2006 to discuss their efforts at judicial reform.

ABA ROLI seeks to enhance the independence, competence, professionalism and accountability of judges in Armenia and to develop and promote resources necessary for the fair and transparent administration of justice. The November 2005 constitutional referendum instituted sweeping changes that were intended to increase human rights protections, to create a more independent judiciary and to improve the balance of power among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. ABA ROLI works to provide the judiciary with the skills, resources and information it needs to carry out their duties successfully in this new environment.

 

Technical Assistance

The judicial reform program provides technical assistance and expertise to the Judicial Department, the Judicial School and the Court of Cassation in the effective implementation of their new functions and duties under the Judicial Code, including the application of case precedence, which is a new concept in the Armenian legal system. To ensure equal access of all judges, advocates, prosecutors and others interested in the decisions passed by the Court of Cassation, ABA ROLI is working with the Judicial Department to publish the judicial acts passed from 2006–2008 by the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. This will promote the effective application of the code and acts, of the new duty of the Court of Cassation in providing uniform law enforcement.

 

Trainings and Outreach

In addition, ABA ROLI provides ongoing technical and expert support to the Judicial School, which organizes seminars and conferences. Specifically, ABA ROLI supported the Judicial School in conducting trainings for newly appointed, as well as working judges, on the application of the case law, rules of judicial conduct and amendments made in the laws regarding meetings, demonstrations and rallies. ABA ROLI also worked closely with the Judicial Department to enhance public awareness by publishing a manual on the Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia, which will be disseminated to students.

ABA ROLI works with the judiciary to increase its efficiency and improve its transparency. For example, ABA ROLI partnered with the Court of Cassation to develop a new system for indexing court decisions. ABA ROLI provided expert assistance as well as relevant materials to support the establishment and effective operation of this system.

In December 2005, Armenia adopted a new Code of Judicial Conduct. The Code, which is based on the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, is the culmination of nearly two years of work by the Association of Judges of the Republic of Armenia (AJRA) and ABA ROLI. A working group established in 2006 by AJRA drafted Commentaries to the Code of Judicial Conduct, which was published with the support of ABA ROLI.

 

Spring 2007 Parliamentary Elections

Armenian lawyers who provided pro bono legal advise on elections day participate in a training on the new Armenian Elections Code.

Armenia’s Parliamentary elections, held on May 12, were the first in the history of independent Armenia that international observers recognized as free and compliant with most international standards. Prior to and during the elections, the ABA worked with national and international organizations to raise citizen's awareness of their electoral rights and to promote adherence to the rule of law during the elections to ensure a fair, transparent electoral process. Activities included the creation of an NGO Advocacy Network, provision of legal aid and legal advice to citizens throughout the election period, and trainings for judges and lawyers on the Armenian electoral code. A national toll-free hotline number was made available to all Armenia citizens in need of legal assistance on election-related issues and problems. A colorful and far-reaching promotional campaign - featuring yellow and green hats, posters, flyers and stickers - was implemented to raise awareness about the availability of the Rule of Law Initaitive's free legal services.

Fifteen "ambulances," each manned by three civic activists and one lawyer, were in action on election day. Coordinated by lawyers at the hotline headquarters, the ambulances operated in Yerevan and other regions and were sent to follow up on calls from citizens who needed on-the-spot legal assistance. The hotline received 129 calls in the pre-election period and 113 calls on the day of the election. Lawyers at the hotline providing legal consultations and assistance to callers, many of whom requested clarification on voting procedures, aid in restoring their voter rights, and assistance in filing complaints.

In order to enhance public awareness of the importance of voting in the upcoming parliamentary election in May 2007 and Armenia's presidential election in 2008, the Rule of Law Initiative is set to air four new televised public service announcements that focus on voting issues. The spots, the latest in the Rule of Law Initiative's popular Alphabet of Law animated public education series aimed at children, are sponsored by the United Nations Development Project (UNDP). Please follow this link to read more on the ABA Rule Of Law Initiative's New Alphabet Of Law Election Spots In Armenia.

For more information, contact the Armenia office at ceeli@abaceeli.am.

 

External Links and Resources

Open Media in Armenia - Provides articles and research materials pertaining to elections and other events in Armenia and Georgia.

HalsteadKregg Halstead
Country Director

Alex Manookian Street
4th floor
Yerevan, 0025, Republic of Armenia

Phone:+374-10-554-991 or +374-10-556-499

Fax: +374-10-558-071

Email: ceeli@abaceeli.am

Background

Legal reform in Armenia has been a slow, incremental process since its independence in 1991. Although Armenia initially instituted sweeping reforms to its constitution, codes and laws to comply with the requirements of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, many of these changes have been slow to take effect. The economic effects of a blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict contribute to the low levels of funding available for the judicial process while corruption undermines the credibility of the legal system. In November 2005, Armenia amended the Constitution by a national referendum creating new opportunities to improve human rights protections and to increase the independence of the judiciary. To implement these amendments, new laws and codes were passed, including the Judicial Code, which consolidated prior legal acts regulating the judicial sector.

Map of Armenia

Read more »»

ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) launched its rule of law program in Armenia in 1996 and its criminal law reform program in 1998. ABA ROLI’s assistance has contributed to a number of important achievements, including: the formation of the Association of Judges of the Republic of Armenia; the adoption of a new Code of Judicial Conduct; the organization of a new Chamber of Advocates; the creation of an advocate qualification exam; the establishment of and institutional assistance to the first public defenders’ office in Armenia; training for judges and advocates on human rights law, election law and other topics fundamental to the rule of law; the preparation of a series of public service announcements and videos about human rights and democracy (which can be seen here); and the creation and support of several university legal clinics.

(hide text)

Meet our Legal Specialists

Kristina RossKristina Ross, joined the ABA ROLI Armenia office in July 2008. Ms. Ross has served as a criminal law liaison at ABA ROLI’s Kyrgyzstan office, worked as an administrative law judge in New York City’s Department of Finance and as a staff attorneyin the city’s Legal Aid Society. Read more »»

Meet Our Field Staff

Liana HaroyanLiana Haroyan, first joined the ABA ROLI in September 2002 and worked for two years as a criminal law reform program assistant. In 2004, she was selected as a public interest law fellow at Columbia University Law School. Read more »»

Back to Top

Copyright American Bar Association. http://www.abanet.org