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2007 Assessment

Armenia: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Armenia: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Civil Society Organizations
Indicators		Score
1	Are anti-corruption/good governance CSOs legally protected?	100
2	Are good governance/anti-corruption CSOs able to operate freely?	83
3	Are civil society activists safe when working on corruption issues?	67
4	Can citizens organize into trade unions?	75

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are anti-corruption/good governance CSOs legally protected?

1a: In law, citizens have a right to form civil society organizations (CSOs) focused on anti-corruption or good governance.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia The Law on Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Armenia www.parliament.am www.arlis.am

1b: In law, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs are free to accept funding from any foreign or domestic sources.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: The Law on Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Armenia www.parliament.am www.arlis.am

1c: In law, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs are required to disclose their sources of funding.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: The Law on Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Armenia www.parliament.am www.arlis.am

Are good governance/anti-corruption CSOs able to operate freely?

2a: In practice, the government does not create barriers to the organization of new anti-corruption/good governance CSOs.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Interview with Mihran Galstyan, the director of "Akunk" ethnosociological Research Center(August 6, 2007, at his office) "Elegia" NGO's research among 57 non-governmental organizations in Armenia

Peer Review Comments: Mihran Galstyan is not a good source because he isn't realy independent as I know that he works with ARF Dashnaktsytyun (local political party, member of coalitional government).

2b: In practice, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs actively engage in the political and policymaking process.

Score:

100

Comments: Despite the fact that anticorruption NGOs are active, they can only manage to raise public awareness on corruption risks or cases. Their influence on the policymaking process is still little.

References: Interview with Mihran Galstyan, the director of "Akunk" ethnosociological Research Center (August 6, 2007, at his office) "Elegia" NGO's research among 57 non-governmental organizations

2c: In practice, no anti-corruption/good governance CSOs have been shut down by the government for their work on corruption-related issues during the study period.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned is there were no CSOs shut down by the government or forced to cease operations because of their work on corruption-related issues during the study period. NO: A NO score is earned if any CSO has been effectively shut down by the government or forced to cease operations because of its work on corruption-related issues during the study period. The causal relationship between the cessation of operations and the CSO\'s work may not be explicit, however the burden of proof here is low. If it seems likely that the CSO was forced to cease operations due to its work, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Interview with the director of Transpareny Internatioal, Armenia Amalia Kostanyan, at Transparency Internatinal Organization's Office, July 26, 2007 Media reports

Are civil society activists safe when working on corruption issues?

3a: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been imprisoned.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no CSO activists imprisoned because of their work covering corruption. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if any activist was jailed in relation to work covering corruption. The causal relationship between the official charges and the person\'s work may not be explicit, however the burden of proof here is low. If it seems likely that the person was imprisoned due to his or her work, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments: Many times, if not always, when it comes to investigating corruption cases by anticorruption activists, the police and governmental structures are trying to throw obstacles in the investigation process by suing these very activists. Typically the goal is to have the above authorities apply the irrelevant articles from Criminal Code.

References: Interview with Vakhtang Siradegyan, the media representative of Transpareny International Armenia "Elegia" NGO research among 57 non-profit organizations

Peer Review Comments: I have heard the same stories. However, I would really like to see some concrete names of activists who have been imprisoned.

3b: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been physically harmed.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of CSO activists covering corruption being assaulted in the specific study period. A YES score can be earned if there was an attack but it was clearly unrelated to the activist\'s work. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases during the study period of assault to an activist who covers corruption. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Interview with Vakhtang Siradegyan, the media representative of Transpareny International Armenia "Elegia" NGO research among 57 non-profit organizations

3c: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been killed.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of CSO activists being killed because of their work covering corruption in the specific study period. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases during the study period where a person was killed related to a corruption trial, scandal or investigation. The relationship between a mysterious death and an individual\'s history may not be clear, however the burden of proof here is low. If it is reasonable that a person was killed in relation to his or her work on corruption issues, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Interview with Vakhtang Siradegyan, the media representative of Transparency International Armenia "Elegia" NGO research among 57 non-profit organizations

Can citizens organize into trade unions?

4a: In law, citizens have a right to organize into trade unions.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Armenian Legislation on Trade Unions www.parliament.am www.arlis.am

4b: In practice, citizens are able to organize into trade unions.

Score:

100

Comments: Trade unions in Armenia exist but are functioning very formally. They do not have any influence on the political life of the country.

References: Interviews with Mihran Galstyan, the director of "Akunk" ethnosociological Research Center (August 6, 2007, at his office), and Stepan Danielyan, the chairman of "Collaboration for Democracy Union" (August 8, 2007, at his office)