Date of entry: July 20, 2010
Member of AICESIS
Member of ILO
The Public Council of the Republic of Armenia (henceforth, PCA – the Public Council of Armenia) was established on 11 March 2009 by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia.
Taking into consideration that activities of the PCA for 2009-2015 have earned approval of both the public and the RA President, and considering expedient operations of that institution as a permanently functioning body enjoying powers under law, it has been decided to include a provision on the PCA in the package of 2015-2016 constitutional amendments, enabling the RA National Assembly to approve a separate Law on Public Council of Armenia.
The Public Council of Armenia is competent to undertake expert evaluation of the Armenian laws and other normative Acts and to hold consultations and hearings with regard to those problems, laws and decisions, which have received much public attention, and to involve citizens and representatives of civic associations and mass media. As a depoliticized entity, the PCA is grounded to the principle of pro bono participation of the citizens and civic associations and of the representatives of the Armenian Diaspora.
Objectives
The goals of the PCA are to:
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info@publicouncil.am / arevik@publiccouncil.am / hakob@publiccouncil.am
26/1 V. Sargsyan street, “Erebuni-plaza” business center - 0010 YEREVAN (ARMENIA)
Establishment |
Date of creation
July 2008
Year operational
11 March 2009
Nature of the texts that create the ESC (Constitution, law, decree, etc.)
Presidential resolutions Decree of the President of the Republic Protocols |
Mandate |
Consultation and advisory
The main mission of the Public Council of Armenia is to be an entity that provides general public with leverage with regard to government policies, while enabling the Government to bring their actions in line with public expectations.
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Composition |
Bipartite plus (W, E and others)
Number of members : 36 members
Duration of the term: 4 years Process of designating the members (election, nomination, by whom, etc.): Mixed- designation and nomination can happen either by the President of the Republic, or by the President of Public Council. Membership structure: The PCA consists of 36 members and 12 committees by areas of activities (henceforth, sectoral committees). The RA President appoints 12 out of the 36 members, and thereafter, they are tasked to form 12 sectoral committees. At their sessions, the committees elect chairpersons who become next 12 members of the PCA. The remaining 12 members are elected by 24 members the PCA, through closed secret voting. Trade unions, unions of businessmen and manufacturers, non-governmental organizations and associations youth and student organizations, mass media, union of veterans, scientific-educational unions, unions of consumers’ rights protection, religions organizations, Diaspora structures, local self-government bodies and other structures involved in respective areas can nominate representatives to serve in the committees. At present, 1200 non-governmental organizations have delegated 2084 representatives to serve in the PCA committees. Regions of Armenia are represented by around 500 members. |
Management organes |
Presidium General Assembly and Plenary Secretariat |
Operational Arrangement Permanent secretarait |
Contacts
Administrative organization of the PCA: The administrative staff of the Public Council consists of 9 members- the head of staff, spokesperson, coordinator of international affairs, the president’s advisor, secretary and 4 coordinators each responsible for 3 out of the 12 committees of the Council. |
Gender balance |
Equal or More than 30%
Females represent 32.8% (683) of the total number of PCA committee members.
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Reporting Institution |
cabinet of president Government Parliament Others
Public
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Who convenes the ESC |
According to the Bylaws, the PCA has the following main functions and powers: |
Other |
Affiliations: AICESIS |
Sustainable development | The PCA discussed, elaborated and submitted to the consideration of the RA state authorities the document on the “Need for Development of Cooperation in the RA Agricultural Sector”. The conclusions of the paper were incorporated in the RA Strategy of Sustainable Agricultural Development for 2010-2020 adopted by the Government of Armenia. |
Labour Law reform | The PCA, in response to the request of the Trade Unions of Armenia, discussed provisions regarding the trade unions stipulated in the Draft Law on “Making Amendments and Restatements to the RA Labor Code”. With the participation of representatives of trade unions, a representative of RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, as well as the Chairman of the relevant Standing Committee of the RA National Assembly, the PCA held discussions on the Draft Law and submitted recommendations, which were partially accepted. |
Productivity and competitivity | Establishment of the National Partnership Network (PCA Committee on Entrepreneurial Activities and Consumers’Affairs). The Government adopted a decision regarding this recommendation on the establishment of the National Partnership Foundation, jointly with the “National Partnership” NGO. |
Fundamental principles and rights at work | Recommendations sent to the National Assembly to create draft laws regarding the trade unions that will protect workers’ rights and will create favorable conditions for further evolution of trade unions |
Employment policy and labour market regulation | The PCA discussed the issue of making relevant amendments in the RA Labor Code related to payment of disability benefits to employees, who became disabled during employment. A working group was formed in the PCA framework: a relevant written statement addressed to the RA President was developed. |
Education | Package of recommendations sent to the Government regarding the Public Education: The Public Council of Armenia, on its initiative and the demand of the society, held many discussions on issues related to the education sector of Armenia: the PCA developed a package of recommendations (“Several Issues on the Organization of Educational Process”) and submitted it to the RA President during a meeting. A part of recommendations (general education administration system, a school structure) included in the package were accepted by the RA Ministry of Education. |
Environment Policy | Various Recommendations sent to the Government on Environmental and Urban issues: • Some layers of the Armenian civil society, in particular, the great mass of active youth and environmentalists raised numerous issues regarding urban development of Yerevan (inadmissibility of demolishment of Mashtots Park, future destiny of “Moscow” summer Cinema Theater, etc). In close collaboration with the above-mentioned groups, the PCA applied to different state structures and due to joint efforts reached positive results. |
Financial and Economic Policies | Recommendations about the effective exploitation of inner recourses in the economy |
Fiscal and Taxation Policies | Recommendation was made to simplify the taxation legislature for small and medium enterprises |
Infrastructure Networks, Transport, and Energy Policies | - Package of recommendations sent to the Government regarding the Public Transport of the capital City of Armenia. |
Others | - Focusing on the issue of amnesty, which was discussed by general public and mass media, the Public Council organized mass discussions of the issue. As a result, recommendations were made and the groups eligible for amnesty were identified. Those recommendations were submitted to the Armenian President and most of them were incorporated in his recommendation presented to the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia with regard to declaring an amnesty. |
Agriculture | Like many other newly independent States, Armenia is faced with numerous problems in the field of agriculture. Having discussed the issues in that area, the Public Council reached a conclusion that the best scenario for the solution of those problems is promotion of agricultural cooperatives in Armenia. Taking into account also the relevant experience existing in the world, the Public Council launched the cooperative movement and will see to it that the movement will further evolve in Armenia. A package of recommendations made by the Council was approved by the Armenian Government and was incorporated in the Strategic Program for agriculture, which was drawn up by the Government. |
Legal Affairs | - In 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia applied to the PCA seeking its conclusion on making amendments to the RA Law on “Transplantation of Human Organs and/or Tissues”. After comprehensive discussion of the issue at the PCA Committee on Health Care and Social Affairs, with the involvement of leading specialists, the PCA submitted its conclusion to the RA Constitutional Court. |
Social Affairs | - The PCA discussed the issue of “Approving the Family Year” and addressed its respective decision to the President and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. Recommendations were accepted and the issue of financing “Family Year” events was included in 2012 State Budget. |
Civil Society | - Strategy concept of development of civil society organizations in Armenia, created by the Committee on Civil Society Development of Public Council of Armenia. |
International affairs | In 2009, the RA President sought PCA’s opinion regarding pre-signed protocols “On the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey” and “On Development of bilateral relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey”. The issue was discussions by all PCA committees, results were summarized at the PCA plenary session and a relevant decision was submitted to the RA President. |
Productivity and competitivity | Committee on Entrepreneurial Activities and Consumers’ Affairs |
Education and Vocational Training | Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport |
Gender equality and anti-discrimination | Committee on Demographic and Gender Affairs |
Health and Medical Policy / Social Security and social protection | Committee on Health Care and Social Affairs |
Environment Policy / Sustainable development | Committee on Agriculture and Environment |
Financial and Economic Policies | Committee on Financial-Economic and Budgetary Affairs |
Civil Society | Committee on Civil Society Development |
International / Regional affairs | Committee on Religion, Diaspora and International Integration Affairs |
Others (please specify the list) | Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs |
Social Affairs | Committee on National Minority Affairs |
Legal Affairs | Committee on State and Legal Affairs |
Governance / Public Administration | Committee on Territorial Administration and Local-Self Government |