On September 24, 2011, a seminar-training on “Measures of restraint not connected with brining a person to Police, arresting and keeping him/her in detention” was held at Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor office, which was targeted for advocates, public defenders, and students.     Advocates Edmon Marukyan and Ruben Hakobyan, members from the RA Chamber of Advocates, were enrolled as trainers.

“In 2008, 1 milliard 600 million AMD was invested in the Republic of Armenia, 90% out was which was invested from Russian Federation, this number was twice reduced in 2009 as a result of financial crisis, the monetary investment in 2010 was 1 milliard 200 million AMD, while, 35% increase was recorded in 2011.

In reference to the aftermath of  previous elections, Artur Sakunts, Head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, revealed the main methods of election fraud during discussions on “Amendments to RA Electoral Code” initiated by the “Partnership for Open Society” Initiative. 

”Partnership for Open Society” Initiative, which unites over 60 member organizations, held a discussion on “Amendments to RA Electoral Code: New Guarantees for Free and Fair Elections” with the participants of representatives from the National Assembly, international organizations, the civil society and the mass media.

On 22 February 2011 with the support of OSCE Office in Yerevan, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Partnership for Open Society Initiative held a discussion in Yerevan focused on democratic control of the armed forces and human rights protection in the military, as well as international best practices.

Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened a roundtable discussion on the topic of “Xenophobia in Armenia.” The meeting brought together NGO officials, human rights advocates, analysts, members of international organizations, and several others.

On July 20 and 21 public discussions and live TV programs on “Mechanisms of Protecting Citizens’ Rights in the relations with Law Enforcement Bodies” were held in Tashir and Spitak towns.

On May 24, 2009, a live radio broadcast and a public discussion took place in Spitak. On May 27, a similar public discussion was held in the town of Stepanavan on “RA Law regulating family relations.”

On May 19 and 20, 2009 public discussions and TV life broadcasts on “RA Legislation Regulating Family Relationship” took place in Tashir and Alaverdi towns of Lori region that was organized by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor.

On January 14, 2008, a discussion on topic “The incoming presidential elections and education system” took place in HCA Vanadzor office.
  Representatives of Vanadzor public schools, prinsiples, teachers, representatives of political parties and NGOs participated in the discussion.
  The aim of the discussion was to clarify how the election procedure influences the educationl system and,in general, how they fit in the frames of law.
  HCA Vanadzor office president A. Saqunts mentions that the education system is being used during the elections, and as a result the dignity of the staff is insulted. The staffs of the schools are often included in this or that party without their eagerness. “Thus they are able to get the patronage of the party and feel themselves protected”.
  The political changes of today and the previous experience prove that the governing party uses its executive resources and complements its political ranks.
The principle of the school no. 23 mentioned that it was impossible to change the whole system, meanwhile he added that the staff itself is accountable for being politicised: “If they are week, they have to be used in some way”.
  The representative of HHSh party said that schools should stay away from politics in order not to pass the children the bad technologies used during the elections. “School is a bringing up system, and it is not fair for the government to use its levers towards children”.
All the participants shared the opinion.
  One of the teachers of the school no. 10 said that she had been working in the school for about 3 years. She was not a member of any political party and did not have any misunderstanding with the principle. No afforts had been made by the principle to make her be included into the ranks of this or that political party.
  The head of “HENK” NGO Arshaluys Zurabyan thinks that the problem is in the morality and values of people. The psychology of slaves is still present in people which becomes the reason of spreading of these kinds of facts, including being involved into political parties without their eagerness.
  The principle of the school no. 23 mentioned that 23 of the 60 employees are the members of the Republican Party, but nobody had forced them to be involved into the ranks of the party.
  The participants of Vanadzor public schools meeting stated that there will be no discriminative approach towards any of the candidates for the presidential elections. The principle of the school no. 23 mentioned that pre-election meetings with the candidates are being agreed with the superiors: “If the meeting’s nature is not antipropagative it becomes possible to organize the meeting”.
  The experience of the previous years shows that the change of the governing parties has its negative influence on the content of the education programs, especially on the History of Armenian Nation.
  As a result of the discussion the following conclusion was made: the education system, especially the principles and the teachers, should stay away from the influence of political parties, since the aim of the education system is to educate the future citizens and not the future members of the political party.
  Many school representatives did not attend the meeting. In the beginning of the meeting two participants announced that they had been called to Lori marzpetaran Department of Education and left.

On December 19, a meeting on “The Problems of Youth from Refugee Families” took place in the office of HCA Vanadzor within the framework of the negotiation week. The meeting was organized by HCA Vanadzor and CRINGO network dealing with the problems of refugees. The goal was to reveal and discuss the existing problems of youth that live in refugee families. Representatives from CRINGO network, HCA Armenian Committee, pupils and students from Nor Khachakap village (a village inhabited by refugees) and media representatives were present at the discussion.

On August 28, a discussion on “The Impact of Development Programs on Stimulation of Civil Engagement and Strengthening of Social Accountability Mechanisms” took place in the office of HCA Vanadzor.