“In the far societies the notions about human rights are very weak; people don’t know their rights and don’t know who to apply to restore them. Thus, this training was very important; the knowledge that we got from it, we share with our colleagues, inform them about their rights and the ways of their realization”, says Armen Shahnazaryan, the head of “Young Tavush” society NGO, who participates in the trainings about human rights within the framework of the project of “Grassroots Voice for Human Rights Mobilization”.

In this project the representatives of the regional structures of the World Vision Armenia develop their capacity of advocacy.

“The aim of the project is to introduce human rights, protection mechanisms of the rights, to the activists of World Vision Armenia , emphasizing civil and political rights. Teaching skills in the sphere of the protection of the interests including human rights monitoring mechanisms, they will organize specialized monitoring and based on it they will ensure the advocacy”, mentioned the head of Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetiq Iskhanyan, on April 2011, on the launch of the trainings.

During the periodic trainings the main human rights, the ways of their protection, were introduced to the participants. The participants examined domestic and international mechanisms; the ways of application, the procedure of examination of the cases, etc.

“In the sphere of human rights I didn’t know anything concrete before this training, which is the violation, in what cases what should be done. From this point of view it was great support; afterwards we’ll know what will be done if needed”, says Arman Hakobyan, the community development specialist of Stepanavan Area Developing Program (ADP).

“I had little information about the advocacy. I acquired enough information what it is and how to realize the advocacy. I’m sure, it was very important and useful for our further activities”, adds Anush Melzhumyan, Kapan ADP TDF (transformational development facilitator).

The serial meeting of the participants took place on June 11-15, during which the participants one more time were introduced to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the working procedure of the UN Human Rights Committee in detail, they also were introduced to the possible development phases of NGOs. The participants were introduced to “12 Dragons of the initiative” theory of Holland scientist Leks Boss.

Then the participants came up with practical work in the mock trial of the European Court of Human Rights as judges, applicants and the representatives of the countries substantiating the violation of human rights with facts and counterarguments.

Aida Muradyan, Sergey Harutyunyan, Anna Safaryan, the employees of the Human Rights Defender’s Office, and expert Ashot Gevorgyan participated at the meeting. They introduced Human Rights Defender’s powers, regional representatives’ functions, and also Human Rights Defender and civil society, Human Rights Defender’s and State Bodies interrelations. Separate discussions and introductions were made about problems, violations of the rights of women, minorities and disabled people as well as about the obstacles during the process of restoration of their rights.

In the end of the meeting the participants got certificates on their participation in the trainings about human rights.

Within the framework of the trainings, while getting acquainted with monitoring implementation methods and the summary of the results, each of the regional representatives has implemented monitoring about violation of specific human right and based on the results has published a report.

“It was a very good opportunity not only for getting knowledge but also for being introduced to the mechanisms of using them in practice. As a result we implemented monitoring, published reports, for most of us it is the first publication. Before the publication we started to cooperate with local authorities, discuss the results and provide possible solutions”, says Mariam Muradyan, social worker of “Valley of Initiatives and Activities” NGO. Parallel to the presentations of the reports a discussion was carried out with the presence of the state’s relevant representatives trying to come up with solutions to the problems together.

”Grassroots Voice for Human Rights Mobilization” project is being implemented by World Vision Armenia organization in cooperation with Civil Society Institute and Armenia’s Helsinki Committee NGOs.