Representatives of Armenian NGOs Are Satisfied with the New Law

• 04.10.2015, 23:02
•  Armenia,  Interview

Since December, 2014 discussions are being held in Armenia on the new draft law "On non-governmental organizations", which the Government of Armenia presented to the Parliament.

  As a result of public discussions, the draft law was revised. On April 8, the Deputy Minister of Justice Arsen Mkrtchyan presented the journalists the revised version of the draft Law "On non-governmental organizations." The new project envisages expansion of credentials of non-governmental organizations. Thus, non-governmental organizations will be authorized to choose their own model of governance independently. According to the new law, for the sake of transparency, non-governmental organizations should provide two types of reports:  if the non-governmental organization finances itself, it should submit a report to the members of its own organization, and if it is financed by the state or municipal funds, the report should be given to the state authorities.

One of the major innovations of the draft law on NGOs is the right to business activities. This will help non-governmental organizations to become financially more stable and independent.

"Armedia" IAA has talked with the Chairman of the Commission on Civil Society Consolidation Affairs on the Public Council of Armenia, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, coordinator of the 4th group of the civil society forum of European Partnership Hovsep Khurshudyan and the President of anti-corruption Center "Transparency International" Sona Ayvazyan on the new draft law.

All of them positively evaluated the new version of the draft law, noting that the Ministry of  Justice during this whole time was maximum open for suggestions.

"I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that since November of the last year, discussions on this issue were held in a constructive atmosphere, and that most of the proposals of civil society representatives, including experts, lawyers, were entitled in the project," - Khurshudian in an interview with "Armedia" IAA said.

 NGO leaders also noted that the draft law also has its drawbacks, but as Hovhannisyan said, on this occasion discussions are being continued.