ACTIVITIES

In the framework of the project Developing Inclusive Oversight of Security implemented by the Dutch NGO Centre for European Security Studies in partnership with Peace Dialogue NGO, two expert lab discussions were conducted on 18-19 January, 2023 in Yerevan. The event on 18 January was aimed at initiating multi-stakeholder consultations on the key priorities in drafting Armenia’s new national security strategy. The topic of the discussion held on 19 January was the classification of defence and security information.

On 26-27 January 2023, Peace Dialogue NGO held a meeting entitled Joint Analysis of Contemporary Narratives and Dominant Discourses on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict. The event took place in Tbilisi, Georgia and brought together representatives of Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society organisations, expert communities, and peace practitioners.

This course, which ran from October 13 to November 27, was aimed to enhance conflict resolution skills among the youth in the northern regions of Armenia by fostering a constructive approach and developing their capacity to find real and rational solutions to conflict situations on daily bases.

Peace Dialogue NGO intends to implement follow-up initiatives in the future. Currently, a manual is being developed summarising the techniques and tools applied to analyse the stories discussed during the course, as well as the methodology employed. Using the manual as a guide, Peace Dialogue will organise a training of trainers in the near future which will give the young participants an opportunity to conduct similar courses among their peers by applying the same tools and techniques.

On 6-7 December 2022 in Yerevan, the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and Peace Dialogue jointly organised a Roundtable discussion on Defence Governance and Oversight in Armenia. 

The event has been set up in close consultation with key stakeholders for defence and security sector reform in Armenia, as well as the RA Parliamentarians and the experts of the relevant commissions with the representatives of the interested public organisations in the field.

Journalism Without Borders cultural exchange program was finalized on October 21-27 in Armenia with the involvement of young participants from Armenia, France, and Germany. The national groups representing the three countries were composed of school-age children and students who are actively involved in their community life.

This survey was conducted in order to identify conscripts’ concerns and needs during their military service and the level of protection of their rights. The main target audience of the survey were conscripts who have already served at least two months of the mandatory period of military service. Since in the Republic of Armenia (RA) the access to current conscripts was not possible, individuals who within the last year completed their mandatory military service were interviewed. Thus, all 100 respondents served in the Armenian Army during 2019-2022.

Peace Dialogue NGO is ready to support the conscripts’ rights during the 2023 winter conscription. Till the end of the conscription, the conscripts and their families can apply to Peace Dialogue to receive legal advice and professional support.