Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office is Celebrating its Subsequent Anniversary
00:00, March 21, 2011 | Press Release
We have been struggling for human rights protection and democracy development for 13 years in succession.
On March 21 of 2011 Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office is celebrating its 13th anniversary.
During the years of its activities, the organization has implemented more than 30 projects targeted at human rights protection, peace-building, civil initiatives and advocacy. In the sphere of human rights protection the organization has provided free legal consultations to over 400 citizens.
During 2000-2011 the organization initiated more than 45 court cases against the activities initiated by RA Ministry of Defense, the Special Investigation Service, the RA Police, LSGBs, and other state structures to improve the practices of legal measures.
HCA Vanadzor office is considered an experienced organization in the field of conducting monitoring. Since 1998 the organization has conducted more than 20 monitoring projects in various fields and institutions/ predominantly at neuropsychiatric medical institutions, detention facilities, orphanages, homes for the elderly, police departments. It has also monitored the call-up process, death cases in the army, military budget, and electoral right.
The role of HCA Vanadzor in the field of human rights development is crucial. During presentation of reports organizations such as “Amnesty International”, Human Rights Watch, OSCE, International Crisis Group have referenced the data on RA human rights protection and peace-building status in the area elaborated and disseminated by HCAV.
In spite of the initiatives the organization has successfully accomplished, in 2010 its activities were bound to threats due to the information disseminated via RA Mass Media representatives about the HCA Vanadzor office activities. According to the information, the government cannot tolerate organizations, the activities of which were qualified as undermining the state.
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office will still continue its contribution in the field of human rights protection and democracy development by enlarging the scopes of its activities.