What is and should be the role of men in maternal health? This was the key issue discussed at the Town Hall Meeting in Yerevan on July 24. About 80 residents of Yerevan were sharing their perspectives on the issue, occasionally referring to the four scenarios which outlined recommendations on the ways to encourage men and women to effectively share responsibilities in the household in order to be able to develop a healthy family. The scenarios suggested the following solutions: improved state support, increased community involvement, redistribution of roles of men and women and mentality and culture change, i.e. men and women negotiating over the productive and reproductive roles. The final vote revealed that the majority of participants were certain that the state support in the form of legislative acts to promote women’s rights, introduction of a package of benefits during pregnancy and financial assistance to young families would be the most effective intervention to change the current situation when men are reluctant to undertake more responsibilities during the pre- and post-natal period.

The Town Hall Meeting was organized with the support of UNFPA within the framework of the World Population Day, the theme of which for 2007 is “Men as Partners in Maternal Health”.

On 13 July the International Center for Human Development was granted the membership of Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS). The association is a network of policy centers in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. PASOS promotes and protects open society values, including democracy, the rule of law, good governance, respect for and protection of human rights, and economic and social development, by supporting policy centers.

To read more on what this membership implies, please, visit this link on PASOS website.

A round table was held on July 3, 2007 within the framework of the project “Support to Migration Policy Development and Relevant Capacity Building in Armenia” implemented by British Council Armenia, Migration Agency of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and International Center for Human Development (ICHD) with the support of the European Commission. Findings of two research studies developed and conducted within the framework of relevant projects of the OSCE office in Yerevan were presented to the representatives of the key state agencies, international organizations and local NGOs, specifically

the evaluation of the RA migration legislation, and

the interim report on the qualitative and quantitative study of labor migration from Armenia in 2005-2007

The participants highlighted the importance and urgency of a number of issues, such as regulating labor migration and the legal relations characterizing the entry to and exit from the country, updating the concept on state migration, assuring its relevance to the current requirements and improving the efficiency of the system. They were requested to get actively involved and to support the development of the migration system with their expertise and skills.

ICHD, together with the Centre for European Security Studies (CESS) of the Netherlands and with support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan, organized the second training course on Democratic Governance in the Security Sector. The training was organized within the framework of Starlink program (Security, Transparency, Accountability and Reform: Linking the Security Sectors of Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Armenia to the European Mainstream).

The course targeted democratic governance of the law enforcement sector. It was held from June 28 to 30, 2007 in Tsagkhadzor, Armenia. The three-day training course was planned for 20 participants who represented the RA Police, media and NGO sector. In addition to the theme of democratic governance in law enforcement agencies, there were a number of other significant topics, such as integrated border management and policing.

According to the participants, it was an excellent learning opportunity which allowed them to gain new ideas and tools for securing democratic practice of governance.

On May 18th and 22nd ICHD organized a series of seminars on early cancer prevention and detection. The participants were about 80 family doctors from all the regions of Armenia. The seminars were conducted with the support of the American Cancer Society. This is the second phase of the training, the first being implemented in 2006 when the first group of family doctors participated in four seminars on the same topic.

During these seminars ICHD experts worked with the Armenian National Institute of Oncology. The presenters provided some materials on different types of cancer, namely, breast, prostate and cervical, as well as brief information leaflets on early cancer prevention. These materials were developed for the general population with the support of UNFPA, and the presenters encouraged the doctors to disseminate those among their patients, which will enhance the awareness campaign.

The first substantial outcome of the project implemented with the support of the European Commission and in consortium with the British Council and Migration Agency of Armenia was the creation of the Migrants Support Unit in mid-April. It will assist Armenian migrants world-wide, providing relevant information on migration issues in general and the reintegration process in particular. The Unit staff comprises five experts. Among other activities, they will also coordinate all the necessary activities to facilitate effective functioning of a hot-line and internet portal to be created for ensuring wider and easier access to the relevant information. Both these tools will provide updated information migrants may need for smooth reintegration.

On April 23rd the project partners held the first working meeting with the unit staff in the premises of the newly created unit. There were two major issues on the agenda: discussion of several bills on migration policy and introduction of the first draft of the portal, called Tundarts (Returning Home). Project experts argued for the necessity of ratifying three bills, namely a law on regulation of oversees labor, law on entry and departure of RA Citizens and a new law on refugees. It was decided to enlarge the discussion of the mentioned bills, involving a larger audience of stakeholders and finalize recommendations regarding Tundarts website.

Journalists usually either report on or try to provide unbiased analysis on the issue of Nagorny Karabakh. Rarely if ever do they come to share their personal perspectives. The Town Hall Meeting which ICHD organized on April 7, 2007 brought together about 40 representatives of Armenian media who shared their attitudes, opinions and challenges regarding the possible resolution of the conflict. The exchange of opinions was marked with high level of awareness of both local and global contexts of the conflict.

The THM provided an open platform for the journalists to discuss five possible scenarios of resolution. The scenarios were developed based on information so far reflected in Armenian and Azerbaijani media. More information on scenarios is available here.

The outcomes of the Town Hall Meeting will be discussed further with various groups of policy makers, political scientists and other relevant experts.

The ICHD, together with the Centre for European Security Studies (CESS) of the Netherlands and with support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan, organized a training course on Democratic Governance in the Security Sector. The training was organized within the framework of Starlink program. Under the Starlink Program (Security, Transparency, Accountability and Reform: Linking the Security Sectors of Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Armenia to the European Mainstream) several intensive courses on democratic oversight have been held in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Following a presentation of its program in Yerevan in 2006, the current training was the first of a series and covered democratic oversight of the defense sector. Later in the year trainings on democratic governance of the intelligence sector and the law enforcement sector will follow.

The training was held from March 30 to April 1, 2007 in Tsagkhadzor, Armenia. The three-day training course was planned for 20 participants who represented the Ministry of Defense, National Assembly, media and NGOs which deal with security issues.

To ensure effective implementation of the “Support to Migration Policy Development and Relevant Capacity Building in Armenia” project, a Steering Committee has been formed. It comprises representatives of state agencies and local and international NGOs dealing with migration issues. The Committee will make sure that adequate and effective impact, effective monitoring throughout implementation and direct feedback is provided.

The first meeting of the Committee was held on March 21, 2007. Twenty-one participants were invited to attend the working meeting. The main objectives were to introduce the project, clarify the further steps of state policy on migration and identify the activities the Committee would need to carry out throughout the project. Participants were invited to exchange opinions and make recommendations regarding the further activities of the Committee.

The Committee will get together at least once in a quarter and will present the activities carried out by partner organizations in the preceding period, find ways to address the challenges identified and suggest ways to ensure maximum impact.

ICHD started shooting a new film series - Returning Home - as part of the project “Support to Migration Policy Development and Relevant Capacity Building in Armenia”. These are documentaries which will depict the destinies of concrete people who have chosen to return to Armenia or are still hesitant to do so and live in foreign countries. The films will depict their daily challenges, routines and emotions and feelings. Five films will be shot in Armenia and another five abroad. The series will touch on the issues associated with the process of return. For more information, please, see the project link.