Shortcomings and problems identified
To solve youth issues there is a need for a particular strategy, where all the problems ensuring youth development and solutions to them in material, physical, mental, psychological, aesthetic sense will be reflected. Despite the fact that a Strategy on Youth Policy (2007-2012) has been elaborated it has not properly promoted to the solution of youth problems, and these problems continue worrying the society. Active social and political participation among the youth is stipulated exclusively in the interests of certain political parties. The Ministry has not properly expanded its cooperation with various apolitical youth NGOs or with critical youth civic initiatives, and it has not promoted to their activities and development.
The socio-economic situation of the youth or newly formed families is worrying particularly in the regions ofArmenia. Comprehensive measures have not been taken to improve the situation. Sufficient number of leisure and cultural events have not been foreseen or carried out for the youth in regions, except for political initiatives. An inadequate approach was demonstrated for assurance of involvement of the youth living inYerevanand regions in projects carried out by the Ministry.
The “Affordable Housing for Young Household” state target program was approved on 29 January, 2010 by the RA Government Decision N98. As of 30 December 2011, in the framework of the “Affordable Housing for Young Household” state target program, only 642 credits have been refinanced with an amount of 4 868 000 000 (four milliard eight hundred sixty eight million) AMD, 346 of which in Yerevan and 296 – in the regions of Armenia. However, in the framework of implementation of the state target program, in certain cases there have been reports on corruption phenomena. In the mentioned cases apartments were provided with violations of prescribed regulations, particularly – a family has obtained an apartment in case when the total age sum of the couple exceeded specified 60 years. It is necessary to supervise the abovementioned process, and take measures to ensure equal rights and opportunities for everyone.
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Development of sports for disabled people and their involvement in the sphere of sports has not been properly ensured. In 2011, by the RA State Budget program “Services Relating to Sports for Disabled People”, 9.000.000 AMD was provided to 4 field NGOs to carry out sport activities. By the “European Wrestling Championship of Deaf People in Yerevan, 2011” program 13.747.000 AMD was provided to “Armenian Sports Committee of the Deaf” NGO, and 1.682.220 AMD was provided to “Armenian National Paralympic Committee” NGO for the participation in the Weightlifting Championships of Disabled People held in the United Arab Emirates. That is, extremely limited financial means were provided, and only certain NGOs have been financed for the organization of mass sport activities. In the interview with the Human Rights Defender’s focal point these issues were also highlighted by the “World Without Obstacles” NGO president Arman Musheghyan and Armenian National Paralympic Committee Secretary General Ruzanna Sargsyan.
Karen Andreasyan,
Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia