Înapoi Mediation training programme advances skilled mediators in Armenia

Mediation training programme advances skilled mediators in Armenia

The creation of a pool of highly skilled mediators is the aim of the mediation training programme organised for twenty prospective mediators. This is an initiative between the Council of Europe the Ministry of Justice in Armenia and the Arbitration and Mediation Centre of Armenia (AMCA).

The curriculum, spanning a total of 40 hours, covered fundamental principles of mediation theory and its practical application. Council of Europe experts designed a programme aiming to provide knowledge and essential skills to excel as prospective mediators.

‘’The training program significantly contributes to the establishment of a mediation institute in Armenia. Experienced trainers employ a well-rounded approach, integrating both theoretical and practical methods, and sharing their expertise to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the essence of mediation and the acquisition of essential skills. Furthermore, the training plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of community among mediators in Armenia through collaborative learning experiences’’, stressed Artak Kirakosyan, president of the Civil Society Institute.

‘’We are thankful to the Council of Europe for their support in organising this important training initiative. It is important to recruit new members of the mediation community and revitalize the mediation in Armenia, which has not developed since its introduction years ago. The legislative changes implemented last year introduced new tools that require the expertise of qualified professionals. This intensive training program serves as a logical and essential continuation of those reforms’’, said Tigran Dadunts, Director of the “Centre for Legislation Development” Foundation of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia

This cooperation reflected the commitment of the engaged stakeholders to work collaboratively towards meaningful justice reform. It is anticipated that these efforts will result in long-term benefits for the Armenian justice system and its stakeholders, inter alia by reducing backlog at courts.

The organisation of the training was organised in cooperation with the Arbitration and Mediation Centre of Armenia (AMCA).

This event is part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme "Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe in the framework of the project “Support to the Justice Reform in Armenia”.

Yerevan, Armenia 17-24 November 2023
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
Strasbourg, France Strasbourg, 1-2 July 2024
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
  • Imprimer en PDF
Addressing hate speech and hate crime: regional gathering of the network of Equality Bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership Region

A two-day workshop on addressing hate speech and hate crime took place at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, involving Equality bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions.  The event supported by the EU and Council of Europe, gathered 50 representatives from both regions who discussed and exchanged on the best practices, measures and common challenges when addressing hate speech and hate crime. Through monitoring and reporting, policy advocacy, raising awareness and supporting victims equality bodies play a fundamental role in protecting human rights and ensuring that all individuals are treated equally.

In her opening remarks, Angela Longo, Head of Anti-discrimination Co-operation Unit, Council of Europe, underlined the significant progress in engaging with Equality Bodies through this network, regularly exchanging best practices and addressing the challenges of hatred and intolerance in societies. She highlighted that this new chapter of discussion delves into the grey area between hate speech and hate crime, addressing issues of incitement and biases,

Representatives from Equality Bodies had the opportunity to discuss and enhance their knowledge on the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers Recommendation to member States on combating hate crime, adopted on 7th May 2024, as well as gain a clearer understanding of EU standards in the field of hate crime. Moreover, participants engaged in exchanges with peers from the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), who shared insights on addressing hate speech in the public discourse. The National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR) in Italy provided practical examples for developing counter-narratives and raising awareness initiatives.

They also explored opportunities to advocate for legislative reform, foster multisectoral co-operation, enhance data collection, and overall improve national mechanisms to counter hate crimes.

This seminar was organised within the action “Promoting equality and combating racism and intolerance in the Western Balkans” and the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination: towards more resilient and inclusive societies” – co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe  under the joint Programmes “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and “Partnership for Good Governance”.

Follow us on social media