WFCE's New Publication

We are happy to announce our new publication “Fundraising Campaign for HIV/AIDS Organizations in the South Caucasus”. The book is published by the financial support of AIDS Foundation East-West

The aim of the project is to create a database for donor organizations supporting HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care projects for the MSM/WSW/TG target groups on the one hand, and organizations working with the MSM/WSW/TG target groups, on the other hand.

 Landmark event for the history of LGBTQ‏

We are happy to share good news about this landmark event for the history of LGBTQ and human rights movement in Armenia. 

We for Civil Equality NGO and Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Sign Memorandum on Collaboration

We for Civil Equality (WFCE) NGO President Dr. Karen BADALYAN and Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Karen ANDREASYAN signed on December 22 a Memorandum on Collaboration.

This unique agreement enables We for Civil Equality and the RA Human Rights Defender to collaborate in the following areas:

·To elaborate and implement a comprehensive collaboration development concept,

·To exchange experience and knowledge,

·To launch a public campaign to raise public awareness of human rights in Armenia,

·To share  and discuss with the Human Rights Defender results of  WFCE’s surveys and polls and, if necessary, help the Ombudsman to submit a legislative initiative to the RA Government and National Assembly,

· Work in different regions of Armenia by establishing regional resource centers  for the Human Rights Defender,

·Forwarding complaint letters of the citizens to the Human Rights Defender

Thus, the memorandum entails the Human Rights Defender and WFCE to organize regular meetings to assess the implementation of activities and programs within the framework of the Memorandum.

We believe that our mutually beneficial collaboration will give fruitful results and bring about positive changes in 2012, promoting human rights and gender equality in Armenia   

“Human Rights and Diversity” Training Program: Open Call for Applications

OPEN TO/ ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:  Individuals, representatives of human rights NGOs, government agencies and initiative groups working in the field of  human rights, particularly with ethnic, national, religious, sexual, gender and other minorities. 

INTENDED AUDIENCE:  Young individuals (aged between 18 and 35 years) of national, ethnic, religious, sexual and gender minority groups, representatives of regional and international human rights NGOs, networks, coalitions, initiative groups  and government organizations working in the field of human rights lobbying, advocacy and education.

START DATE/ TIME: January 20th, 2012

Duration: 3 days

LOCATION: Tsaghkadzor, Armenia

DETAIL DESCRIPTION: The WFCE “Human Rights and Diversity” Training Program is an opportunity for young human rights activists representing different national, ethnic, religious, cultural, sexual and gender minority groups to engage in effective human rights education (e.g., training, awareness campaigns, information dissemination and advocacy) to achieve social inclusion of marginalized social groups in Armenia. The training program uses a participatory approach that encourages intercultural learning through an exchange of experiences among participants, facilitators and resource persons. Experts invited to the training program, will give participants an insight into the human rights situation in Armenia and basic approaches to social integration of national, ethnic, religious, sexual, gender and other minority groups in Armenia

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL: Higher education in the field of human rights, international law, social sciences and foreign relations, diplomacy, political sciences and public administration.

REQUIREMENTS: The participants will be selected on the following criteria:

• Being an active member/volunteer in the nominating organization for at least one year;
  
• Influencing on the human rights advocacy work at local/national/regional and international levels;
  
• Being ready to share the gained knowledge and experience with peers and colleagues;
  
• Sharing the principles and values of human rights when working with various poly-ethnic groups and respect cultural diversities;
  
• Having a basic knowledge of human rights and advocacy mechanisms
  

 Priority will be given to young participants (aged between 18 and 35) representing national, ethnic, religious, sexual and gender minority groups.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Candidates interested in the training program should send their CV totraining@wfce.am. The attached CV should be named as follows: Name_Family Name_CV_MT_2012 (example: Aram_Aramyan_CV_MT_2012). Applicants are kindly requested to mention in their CV if they belong to any minority group. 

Opening Date: December 21, 2011

Deadline: January 15, 2012

About: The WFCE training program designed to strengthen the capacity of individuals and organizations to engage in effective human rights education (e.g., training, awareness campaigns, information dissemination and advocacy) aimed at building the capacity of young human rights activists from national, ethnic, religious, sexual and gender minority groups in Armenia. The training program is WFCE’s contribution to the promote human rights and democratic principles of equality and non-discrimination in Armenia. The event is carried out within “Youth Dialogue for Diversity” Project and is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the MATRA Project

The British Council, British Embassy Yerevan, the OSCE Office in Yerevan in partnership with the UNFPA, World Vision Armenia, supported by BMI and ATV TV company announce the 4th Na/Ne annual media competition.
 This year in addition to the main nomination categories We for Civil Equality NGO has introduced a special award for the best media submission highlighting Gender Identity and Gender Expression Issues.
Journalists representing printed, online media, TV and radio companies of Armenia as well as independent journalists are eligible to submit their publications to take part in the competition. The published and broadcast publications and their authors may also be nominated by NGOs and individuals.
Materials must have been published or broadcast within the period from January to December 2011 and cover the activities and achievements, problems and challenges of women in political, economic and social spheres as well as Gender Based Violence. All publications should be presented from the gender equality perspective.

Categories

• TV programme
  
• Printed article
  
• Radio programme
  
• Online or blog article
  
• Photo or photo story
  
• Social or commercial advertisement raising issues of a woman or gender equality

Selection Criteria

• Objectivity
  
• Faithfulness to the principles of journalistic ethics
• Accuracy and clarity
• Assessing illustrations from the perspective of gender equality
• Breaking existing gender stereotypes
• Keeping the principle of equality. (balanced men’s and women’s opinion on the issue)
• Timeliness and  creativity

Prizes

• First place – Na/Ne Silver Statue and 300, 000 AMD
  
• Second place – Certificate and 150,000 AMD
  
• Third place – Certificate and 75,000 AMD
  

Special Prizes
This year Special Prizes will be provided by   We for Civil Equality NGO, Armenian Young Women Association, World Vision Armenia, UNFPA, Eritasard.am

• World Vision Armenia’s Child Health Now Campaign gives a special award to the best media submission highlighting maternal and child health issues.
  
• UNFPA gives a special award to the best media submission highlighting sex selective abortions in Armenia.
  
• Armenian Young Women Association gives a special award for the best Student work. 
  
• We for Civil Equality NGO gives a special award for the best media submission highlighting Gender identity/Gender expression and related issues.
  
• Eritasard.am youth online magazine will provide the winner of the Na/Ne Student Award with an opportunity to pass a month-long internship. 
  

FPeople’s Choice Award
 This year for the first time within the Na/Ne Media Award you may select the winner! Especially for this purpose we have launched the Na/Ne Media Award Blog where we will be posting all the submissions for the Na/Ne competition 2011.
By visiting our blog you can vote for your favourite story by clicking the Facebook Like button. The submission which gets the greatest number of like-s will be awarded a special prize.

Submission Procedures  
Applications must be submitted by 17 January, 2012. The results of the competition will be finalised by the end of January and presented during Na/Ne award ceremony. For the first time this year the ceremony will be open for public and will be broadcast on ATV, the exclusive information sponsor of the event. The invitations to the event will be available to all interested individuals from the British Council office.
Please, submit the applications in hard copy to the British Council office: by 10 December, 2011 to 24 Baghramyan Avenue, and from 11 December, 2011 to 9 Alek Manougyan street, or make your electronic submission to nane@britishcouncil.am.
Please note that in case of electronic submissions, scanned versions of the publications are required.
Our recruitment and selection policies ensure there is no unjustified discrimination on the grounds of age, disability or HIV/AIDS status, gender including transgender and marital status, political opinion, race/ethnicity, religion and belief, sexual orientation, spent convictions, socio-economic background, trade union activity or membership, on the basis of having or not having dependants, work pattern, or on any other irrelevant grounds.
Following the Equal Opportunities and Diversity policy adopted by the British Council globally, access to this initiative will be ensured for representatives of different communities and underprivileged groups. Special arrangements will be made for the disabled people.