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HCA Vanadzor and ‘Populex’ Law Office implemented the ‘Vanadzor Legal Clinic’ Project throughout the period of September 2013-April 2014, with the support of the American Bar Association (ABA).

The Project aimed to develop the professional capacities of young lawyers in cases of ill-treatment, legal counseling and legal representation.

While the Legal Clinic was originally intended to include 15 lawyers, it received application for participation from 17 lawyers and admitted them all.

The Project developed in 2 stages. At the 1st stage, 30 trainings on criminal procedure and international mechanisms for human rights protection were held for the participants. The trainings were held by the lawyers of the Organization, Araik Zalyan and Artur Harutyunyan as well as the Head of ‘Populex’ Law Office, advocate Karen Tumanyan and advocate Artur Sukiasyan.

The 2nd stage of the Project covered practical activities that resulted in choosing 2 chief advocates. Throughout the Project, its participants assisted at legal counseling, provided consultations and prepared relevant legal documents based on the cases under consideration.

As the Project came to its end, the participant lawyers took an examination. They formed groups of 2, then, each group was assigned a legal problem, and came up with certain steps to solve the problem, i.e. to restore the violated rights. Upon passing their tests, the participants were awarded certificates on successfully completing the Project.

The Project opened up ample opportunities for the participant lawyers for an extensive knowledge base; the young lawyers gained professional practical experience as during the practical trainings they had the chance to effectively apply to legal consulting their theoretic knowledge acquired at the trainings.

Under this Project, the Organization funded 6 strategic cases on the right to be free from tortures and inhuman treatment.

The notice on the strategic cases will be published in the near future.