Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office

HCA Vanadzor has adopted an integrated approach to human rights protection, which focuses on both prevention of violations and on restoration of violated rights. The logic of human rights protection by HCA Vanadzor develops the following way: individual -> group-> general public and government institutions: Legal support, Human rights monitoring/public oversight (through visits, official inquiries, surveys, mass media and other sources),Advocacy and Civil Initiatives. On individual level HCA Vanadzor provides free of charge legal assistance to citizens on a range of issues and in cases of violation of their human rights, HCA Vanadzor assists them by representing them in court or assisting them with preparing and submitting official inquiries, crime reports, court applications, and appeals. We do not only receive citizens in our office but also visit them at their location (be that home, detention facility, prison, or other institution) and provide legal consulting via hotline available in the territory of Armenia. Every year, HCA Vanadzor provides legal consulting and assistance to approximately one thousand people. HCA Vanadzor represents about 50 people from socially vulnerable groups in court annually. The Organization also conducts about 30 cases of strategic significance annually. The strategic cases are selected based on their potential impact on legislation and practice in human rights protection.