OSCE and Yerevan State University open environmental rights centre

YEREVAN, 16 September 2008 - A Resource Centre on Environmental Rights opened at the Law Faculty of the Yerevan State University today with the support of the OSCE Office and as part of the ENVSEC Initiative.

The joint OSCE, UNDP, UNEP ENVSEC Initiative aims to provide a framework for co-operation on environmental issues across borders and promote peace and stability through environmental co-operation and sustainable development. The Initiative focuses on four regions: Central Asia, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe and South Eastern Europe.

"The implementation of existing multilateral environmental agreements is a guarantee of achieving the goals set by these instruments. Advocacy of environmental rights will stimulate sustainable development and access to environmental justice," said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. 

Aram Simonyan, the Rector of the Yerevan State University, added: "The Centre will serve as an education and a resource hub for developing and implementing environmental legislation, and will act as an advisory council for the National Assembly, relevant Government agencies, local authorities and leading civil society organizations."

The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been helping Armenia implement the 1998 Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. Since 2002, it has helped open nine Aarhus Centres in the country.

The new Resource Centre will work in co-operation with Aarhus Centres to address environmental issues locally and nationwide.