Human rights violation issues keep on happening in Armenia’s communities, but a competent intervention from the communities’ part could significantly change the situation.

Children being left from education system, out-pocket payments at schools, provision of healthcare services especially to children with special needs, as well as the rights of the national minorities were identified as alarming among other human rights issues in Armenia's communities, revealed the monitoring conducted by the community-based organizations, established by World Vision.

Establishment of community-based organizations (CBO) was the first step for World Vision Armenia to ensure communities are participating and self-protective. “With the establishment of the CBOs it became clear that they need extensive capacity building so that CBO members understand how they can do their job best”, says Tamara Barbakadze, World Vision Armenia Human Rights Project Manager.

The extensive capacity building involved Armenia’s experienced human rights advocates “Civil Society Institute” in Armenia and “Helsinki Committee of Armenia” NGOs that organized a series of training sessions on Human Rights, Identification and monitoring mechanisms.

At first CBO representatives had rather vague understanding of human rights issues and they could hardly identify these issues through correct monitoring.

The actual human rights monitoring encompassed the learning process as the CBOs were requested to do the monitoring of burning human rights issues in their communities and come-up with a report on the findings. “We have seen a considerable change while the CBOs has gone through this whole learning process and though their initial reports still need amendment and improvement, we can be sure they now know what Human Rights is all about”, says Sirvard Mamikonyan “Helsinki Committee of Armenia”  NGO Executive.

Today the reports are in the amendment process which is conducted with the immediate supervision of Human Rights experts in the country.

In February-March the reports will be published and presented to respective authorities for further consideration and action. “It is all about being consistent. If the CBO representatives are competent and willing to bring change, then they can make their reports the best tool to achieve this change, and we are here to support them”, says Arman Danielyan, President of “Civil Society Institute” in Armenia.

“We give tools and knowledge, the rest is left to the CBOs, International NGOs can not be present in the communities for ages, so our role is to empower the communities and make them speak out in a civil and constructive manner”, says Tamara Barbakadze.