With EU support, public councils  launched to address needs of  refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh

ArmInfo.  Four public councils will operate throughout Armenia to address the needs of refugees displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. They will be located in  Yerevan, Yeghegnadzor, Gyumri and Dilijan, thus ensuring a broad  geographic coverage for those forcibly displaced from  Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to a message received by ArmInfo, the public councils are  being created by the Estonian Refugee Council within the framework of  the EU-funded project "Human Rights for and with Refugees".  The  process of forming public councils for refugees was launched in early  September.

"The Refugee Community Councils are a long-awaited initiative and we  are pleased to introduce them to Armenia. We hope that these councils  will have a long-term positive impact on both refugees and their host  communities," Tatevik Khudinyan, Director of the Estonian Refugee  Council's Armenian Office, stated at a meeting with representatives  of partner organizations while discussing further steps to form the  councils. It is noted that the main goal of the community councils is  to provide IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh with the necessary knowledge,  skills and resources to independently solve the problems they face,  effectively represent their interests and actively participate in  decision-making processes affecting their lives. The activities of  the public councils will be carried out by the following  organizations: in Yerevan -" Union for Protection of  Interests and  Rights of Artsakh People" NGO,  in Gyumri - "Socio-Psychological  Center Kanani"  NGO,  in Yeghegnadzor -  "Labor and Homeland" NGO and   in Dilijan -  "Dilijan Youth Cooperation Center" NGO.

Community councils will hold monthly meetings, where elected members  will discuss  the problems and needs of refugees and present options  for their solutions. Membership in public councils is voluntary,  providing an effective way to develop local democracy and ensure that  the voices of refugees are heard.  Additionally, capacity building  meetings, thematic trainings and consultations are planned as needed,  contributing to more targeted and scientifically based development of  solutions to the problems raised.

Each council also has the opportunity to receive financial support,   intended for the implementation of various initiatives and the  solution of public problems. The term of council office is two years,  with membership being voluntary and designed for one year. Activities  should be carried out on a politically neutral basis. The programme  also covers travel costs, allowing participants to attend meetings  even if they live outside the designated locations.

The Human Rights for and with Refugees programme is supported by the  European Union, the Democracy Development Foundation, the Estonian  Refugee Council, the Coalition to Stop Violence against Women and the  Commit Global.  The goal of the project is to ensure that NK refugees  residing in Armenia are empowered to uphold their fundamental rights,  and there are  accessible mechanisms  for addressing and identifying   the specific human rights vulnerabilities of different groups within  the refugee population.