OSCE Office in Yerevan

Fighting corruption

Corruption is a major obstacle to economic, political and social development. The Armenian Government's five-year programme (2007-2012) contains a commitment to fight corruption as part of its overall objective to advance good governance and promote public administration reform. The OSCE Office in Yerevan assists the Armenian authorities and civil society in their efforts to combat this phenomenon.

The Office supports the development of a new three-year Anti-Corruption Strategy to replace the previous government strategy, which expired in January 2007. The Office will facilitate co-ordination between the Anti-Corruption Monitoring Commission (which is responsible for drafting the strategy), the international community and civil society in order to ensure the maximum possible participation by international and domestic stakeholders in the development of the strategy.

In order to mobilize civil society to the fight against corruption, the Office also supports an Anti-Corruption Coalition of non-governmental organizations. In partnership with the Coalition, the Office operates a network of anti-corruption reception centres in Yerevan and the regions of Armenia, where citizens can get legal and practical information on the corruption cases they encounter, as well as advice on their rights. A range of experts covering sectors such as healthcare, education, the army, small and medium-sized enterprises and taxation, public services and consumers' rights, civil and administrative law, are available at the centres to respond to citizens' inquiries and problems.

The Office works closely with international donors to coordinate anti-corruption initiatives through an International Working Group on Anti-Corruption which it regularly chairs. By avoiding duplication of activities, it helps to enhance the effectiveness of the international community's anti-corruption assistance. It is also involved in raising awareness and educating the public on corruption issues through publications, studies, presentations and monitoring activities.

Capacity building for civil servants

Since 2004, the Office has supported a variety of activities aimed at improving the professional skills of Armenian civil servants in the legislative and executive branches of government. Advanced training sessions have been organized for the staff of the National Assembly's departments and standing committees. Meetings to exchange experiences with the parliaments of Hungary, Slovenia and Belgium were held in co-operation with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Courses and training sessions on foreign policy analysis were delivered by domestic and international experts to the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions started in 2007 with the Ministry of Defence to organize tailor-made capacity-building activities for its staff.

In 2008, the Office expects to expand its co-operation with civil service structures. It will combine short- and long-term capacity-building activities and look into the possibility of laying the foundations for institutionalizing them in co-operation with state authorities.