Training within the framework of the nationwide awareness program on communication activities of the Whistle-Blowing System rook place in Gyumri city for the representatives of the local self-governing bodies and regional administration of the Shirak Marz of the RA.

The training started with welcome speeches of the program experts and exchange of experience. Further the experts presented to the attention of the participants the unified whistle-blowing platform azdararir.am currently operating in RA, the rules for its operation as well as the issue of privacy and anonymity provided by the platform and legal regulations of the system.

Further, having the aim to develop practical skills, the participants performed practical works based on situational problems and real cases, during which they raised the problems in their community that hinder the development of the system.

The courses are carried out in the framework of cooperation with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), with the joint efforts of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO and the Ministry of Justice.

The objective of awareness activities that are carried out in the scope of the campaign is to reduce negative perceptions in relation to whistleblowers, to increase public awareness about the vital role of whistleblowers, as well as to highlight the role of the Unified Electronic Platform for Whistle- Blowing (azdararir.am) in the fight against corruption.

As part of the nationwide campaign, it is planned to carry out educational activities in all regions of Armenia, involving community servants and other representatives. Before this similar trainings were carried in Sevan, Yeghegnadzor Goris, Armavir, Hrazdan, and Ararat cities.

This article was produced with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU) within the framework of the Governance Progress Board measure of the Eastern Partnership Regional Fund for Public Administration Reform project implemented by GIZ. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Armenian Lawyers Association and do not necessarily reflect the views of the German Government or the EU.