Representatives
of the non-governmental organizations of communities of Syuniq, Lori, Gegharkunik,
Shirak, Tavush and Aragatsotn Marzes have conducted monitoring with the aim to
find out the real situation of human rights in different areas.

The
monitorings have been implemented within the frames of the project “Grassroots
Voice for Human Rights Mobilization” launched in 2011 and implemented by the
“World Vision Armenia” organization in cooperation with the Armenian Helsinki
Committee and Civil Society Institute human rights organizations.  

The
goal of the project is to enhance the capacity of the community NGOs for
protection of human rights. 45 representatives from community NGOs participated
in the training and gained skills in monitoring of the rights and advocacy.

On
September 28 the results of the monitorings were presented to the general
public.

The
monitoring Protection of children’s right to education  implemented in May-September 2011 in
several communities of Gegharkunik and Lori Marzes revealed that 10 children
were left out of the system of education.

“Children
are left out of education mainly due to the social problems, involvement to the
seasonal agricultural work, frequent change of residency, special educational
needs. There were revealed kids who do not attend school because they do not
have a birth certificate”, stressed out Mariam Muradyan, employee of Gavar Area
development program while presenting the monitoring results.

The
absence of definition for children who are «left out of education» in the
legislation has been an obstacle for the monitoring group. On the other hand,
according to the monitoring implementers, there are children who are registered
in the school but are frequently absent and thus partially are left out of
education.

Another
monitoring group has observed the right to education for children in eight Yezidi
communities of Talin region.

The
research had shown that although the RA legislation provides the ethnic
minorities with the right to organize the education by the special program in
the school, due to the absence of professionals children are deprived of the
possibility to get the education on their mother tongue.

“Pupils
of Dydmasar community cannot write and read in their mother tongue because within
eight years no subject has been taught in Yezidi language due to the lack of
professionals. In Hako community Yezidi language is not taught because the
teacher left for Russia”, says Anahit Abgaryan, Chairwoman of “Talin - Huys” NGO.

She
says that in all schools where research was conducted the directors and
teachers are Armenians while the teachers who can teach in Yezidi do not have
the university education as it is prescribed by the RA legislation. In general,
the interest to the education in these communities is very poor. Ms. Abgaryan
explains this by the national peculiarities of Yezidi.

The
monitoring “Medical services for children with disabilities in Kapan” has
revealed that despite the law provides the right for free health care for
children with disabilities, parents still are forced to pay.

 “For instance, 29 people applied to the
physician, 11 paid and the fee was equal to 5000-90 000 AMD”, stressed out
Katerina Gabrielyan, employee of the “World Vision” Kapan Area development
program while presenting the monitoring results.

She
said that many parents simply are not aware that their kids have the right to
free medication and equipment. Some parents are informed about the possibility
but prefer to buy more expensive medication and equipment of better quality as
the offered aid is not always effective.

The
monitoring results also shown that the facilities for initial medical care are
not suited to the needs of people with disabilities and are not properly equipped.
 

The
monitoring group of Syuniq Marz has focused on the Availability and accessibility of
first medical assistance for pensioners in rural communities of Goris and
Sissian administrative districts in Syunik region 

The
observed medical facilities were not provided with public utility conditions.
Some of the facilities lacked bathroom units, water supply, electricity,
heating system.

The survey
conducted among beneficiaries revealed that pensioners believe the
expensiveness of medication is the most important issue (30%), 21 % believe
health care services  too expensive, 20%
of respondents believe the medical facilities providing services to the
community are remote from their place of residence.

Representative
of «Mush» Development Center Mariam Gharagyozyan presented the results of the
monitoring «Protection of the rights of adult patients with pancreatic diabetes in
health sector in the city of Gyumri within the framework of services commissioned
by the State».

According
to the results of survey conducted among 98 persons suffering diabetes, 97 %
were assigned to the free medication. However 32.6 % of respondents were forced
to buy medication on their own means because the dosage of assigned medication
was insufficient. 21 respondents stressed out that the medical facility failed
to allocate the medication on time. 11 respondents stressed out that the
medication prescribed by the doctor was not included in the list of medication
provided free of charge or under privileged conditions.

«Although
the state envisages that the necessary outpatient medical care and services are
provided free of charge, 2% of respondents mentioned that they paid for
laboratory examination. 72.4% of respondents are satisfied and 27.6% are
dissatisfied with the quality of specialized medical care provided», is
highlighted in the monitoring report.

The
monitoring group of Tavush Marz has studied the “Labor relations in private
enterprises in Ijevan and Berd administrative districts of Tavush region”. In
the result of the monitoring it was revealed that in some enterprises the
working condition do not comply with the standards envisaged by the
legislation, overtimes are not paid, in many cases no working contract is
signed, many people do not benefit from their vacation. There are cases when
the employees ask the employer not to register them, so that they continue to receive
the allowance.  The employers complain
about their defenseless before tax services.

 “Money collection in schools in Vardenis administrative
district”
monitoring has revealed that despite the assurances of the school directors
that money are collected from the pupil merely for the purchase of textbooks, the
pupils and their parents mention they give money for the heating, renovation
and other needs of the schools, for organization of excursions.

Only 8%
of parents participated in the survey within the frames of the monitoring said
there is no money collection in their schools.

37% of
respondents said that recently they gave 5000-10 000 AMD, 37%- 1000-3000 AMD
and  26% of respondents said they have
been collected 1000 AMD.

 “The problem is that despite there is a more
civilized way to collect and administer financial means i.e transfer to the
school’s account number, it is preferred to collect money unofficially because
otherwise the taxes should be paid”, stressed out Liana Harutyunyan,
representative of the «World Vision» Vardenis Area development program. 

Organizers
of the round table discussion assured that the conducted monitoring results
will not be “put off”. “We are going to be consistent in order to keep focus on
the issues we have raised. We are planning to organize meetings with the
representatives of the Ministry of Education and science and present the recommendations”,
highlighted Vahram Petrosyan, the Head of the “World Vision” Alaverdi Area
development program.

The
conducted researches have been sent to the appropriate public bodies.

Full
versions of the reports of monitoring “Human Rights in the Region of Armenia”
in Armenian and  Enlgish here.