With EU support, Community councils have been established to address the needs of Nagorno-Karabakh refugees and provide them with assistance.
To address the needs of refugees displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and to support them, four Community Councils (CC) will operate across Armenia. Community Councils are established by Estonian Refugee Council within the framework of the European Union-funded project “Human Rights for and with Refugees”. The processes of forming the CC of refugees began in early September. The four CCs will be operating in Yerevan, Yeghegnadzor, Gyumri, and Dilijan, ensuring broad geographical coverage for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Tatevik Khudinyan, Country Director of the Estonian Refugee Council Armenia Office, met with representatives of partner organizations to discuss the next steps in the formation of the councils.
“This is a long-awaited initiative, and we are excited to launch the Community Councils in Armenia. We hope that the CCs will create a lasting positive impact on both refugee and host communities,” mentioned Tatevik Khudinyan.
The main goal of the CCs is to equip displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to independently address the challenges they face, effectively advocate for their interests, and take an active role in shaping solutions.
The CCs will be hosted and operated by the following organizations: in Yerevan – “The Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People” NGO, in Gyumri – “Kanani” Social-Psychological Center NGO, in Yeghegnadzor – “Work and Motherland” Regional Development NGO, and in Dilijan – “The Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan” NGO.
“The southern regions of Armenia were the first stop for our compatriots displaced from Artsakh. Numerous challenges displaced people may face,” noted Ruzan Ghazaryan, President of the “Work and Motherland” NGO. Partners from Dilijan added that the establishment of CCs provides a good opportunity to empower displaced people, voice their needs, and protect their rights while serving as a bridge between displaced people and civil society and state institutions.
The CCs will hold monthly meetings during which elected members will discuss the issues and needs of displaced people and propose possible solutions. Membership to the CCs is voluntary, which is an effective way to promote local democracy and ensure that the voices of refugees are heard.
”The involvement of displaced people in addressing issues that concern them is very important, and in this regard, with international support, the formulation of Community councils is necessary and very much welcomed. It provides a real opportunity for displaced people to discuss various issues and present proposals to decision-makers and relevant bodies.” – says Artak Beglaryan, President of “The Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People” NGO.
In addition to the monthly meetings, capacity-building sessions, thematic workshops, and consultations will be organized as needed, contributing to a more targeted and fact-based formulation of solutions to the issues raised.
“Our experience in providing sociopsychological support to displaced families allows us to actively involve them in these processes. We value this initiative, it will provide an opportunity to develop the capacities of displaced individuals, also promote the exercise of their own rights and the formation of civic awareness, contributing to the implementation of community-based initiatives,” said Kristina Baghdasaryan, President of “Kanani” Social-Psychological Center NGO.
Each council also has a dedicated budget intended for implementing various initiatives that directly address the needs of both refugees and their host communities. The councils will operate for a period of two years, membership is voluntary and planned for one year, and all activities must be on a politically neutral basis.
The project also covers travel expenses, making it possible to participate in meetings even if participants reside outside the mentioned communities.
“Human Rights for and with Refugees” project is implemented with the support of the
European Union by Democracy Development Foundation, Estonian Refugee Council, Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women, and Commit Global. The project focuses on empowering refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh by providing essential knowledge about their rights, addressing vulnerabilities, and improving access to user-friendly resources on their entitlements and opportunities.