President of the Scientific Committee: Ph. Dr. Arshavir Avagyan
Director: Stepan Badalyan
Permanent staff of the Center: Director, Head of scientific methodological sector, 2 Chief specialists, 2 Senior specialists, Accountant, Driver-mechanic.
OBJECTIVES
The Centre carries out multidisciplinary activities. Programs are implemented in compliance with the priorities set by the Council of Europe ‘s European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement in the field of disaster risk reduction in close collaboration with other Agreement ‘s European Network Centres, other international institutions, as well as the Armenian Rescue Service and Crisis Management Academy under the Ministry of Emergency Situation and other concerned organizations of the Republic of Armenia.
The priority is given to the active methods of work contributing to prevention, adequate response and relief in the emergency management related activities:
Preparation and implementation of the programs and educational materials targeted at awareness raising and improved preparedness to disasters by the population, local governments, including the most vulnerable people ( in particular, children and people with disabilities), as well engagement of civil society in disaster risk reduction activities
Activities, directed at enhancing and harmonizing the legislation in the area of civil protection, disaster risk reduction and emergency response,
Initiatives for development and implementation of the regional programs aimed at trans-frontier disaster risk reduction.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
carried out and in progress
1. Preparation of the “National Report on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Republic of Armenia” for the “World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction ( Kobe, Japan, 18-22 January, 2005) 54 pages in English, ( May-August 2004)
2. National Program for implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, concluded between the Republic of Armenia, European Community and its Member- states: ”Rapprochement of the Legislations of the European Union, Member-States of the EU and the Republic of Armenia” (Subchapters-Civil Protection and Sustainable Development ( January-July, 2005)
3. The Council of Europe’s European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement , UN International Organization of Migration (IOM) “Risk assessment mission in Kosovo”, ”School of Civil Protection in Kosovo. Training Program For Trainers” Development of Module12. “Organization of Relief. Basis of organization and carrying out rescue operations in emergencies. (2000-2001)
4. Development and implementation of the Project: “National and Municipal Campaigns on informing and warning the population about emergencies at central and municipal levels ( basis for establishing a regional early warning system for the Southern Caucasian countries and neighboring states in trans –frontier emergencies) ( 2005-2013).
This project is being implemented by the financial support of the Council of Europe’s EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement. The Project implementation includes 4 phases: Planning. Preparation. Execution. Evaluation.
By now within the Project framework the following materials have been created : “Methodology and Plan for action” aiming to develop and hold National and Municipal “Campaigns” on informing and warning the population about emergencies at central and municipal level” (in English and Russian).
The basic information materials:
Information Leaflet:” What to do first when warned about on an imminent disaster”,
Short Brochure:” Brief information for the population on what to do first when warned on imminent disaster
More detailed Brochure:” Priorities for action to be undertaken by the population when warned on an imminent disaster or in case a disaster is likely to occur in Armenia”
Additional information Modules for the municipalities at special risk ( Priorities for action to be undertaken by population):
Manual assigned for the population on how to act when radiation pollution is real or seems imminent
Manual assigned for population on how to act when chemical pollution is real or seems imminent”
Manual assigned for population on how to act when a flood is real or seems imminent
Manual assigned for population on how to act when an earthquake is real or seems imminent
In the progress within the Project framework are being created some information materials on awareness raising and enhanced preparedness to emergencies assigned for the most vulnerable people.
Manual on preparedness and rules of behavior for the people with disabilities, especially children if an earthquake is real or seems imminent has ready been created.
Manual and Plan for action on heightened awareness and improved preparedness to an earthquake, assigned for the specialized and other types institutions, where the children with disabilities are cared (will be created in 2012-1213).
5. Preparation of additional educational materials aimed at awareness raising and improved preparedness to disasters and their pilot adoption in schools and other educational establishments (2006-2013)
Within the Project currently are being implemented in close collaboration with the Crisis Management Academy under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of RA :
“Basic knowledge on safety and survival in emergencies”, a pilot Manual assigned for running this course in schools and other academic institutions
“Methodology” for teaching the above course in secondary schools
“Special Tests” assigned for school administration, teachers and students’ parents to assess safety of schools and other academic institutions
Brochure: “Extreme Psychology”
Universal teaching “First Aid” Manual
“Memorandum first aid pocket Book”
6. Participation in elaboration of proposals, aimed at launching, improving and subsequent functioning of the National Platform of Armenia on disaster risk reduction and further engagement in it of a civil society, as well as its integration into the European Network of National Platforms (2010-2013)
7. Organization of training in first aid skills within the Armenia-French joint Program framework (1997-2013) :
Offering training courses aimed to prepare the second and the first grade instructors from a number of students- members of the Alpine club of the Yerevan State Medical University to administer first aid at emergencies
Offering training courses on first aid and rescue operation basis in emergencies for military men from a peacekeeping battalion of the Republic of Armenia
Offering training courses for first aid health providers as well as monitors from outmost, isolated, mountainous, not easily accessible regions of Armenia
8. Engagement into the Project: “Enhancing cooperation between national, regional and local authorities in the field of disaster risk reduction under supervision of the Higher Institute for Emergency Planning (ISPU, Florival, Belgium) (2012-2013)
9. Engagement into the Project: “ Nuclear Hazard: Chernobyl and Fukushima : lessons for public awareness”, coordinated by the European Centre of Technological Safety (TESEC, Kiyv, Ukraine ( 2012-2013)
10. Engagement into the project: “ Seismic protection of Monuments (Preparation of regulatory documents for design of structural intervention in monuments in earthquake prone areas”), coordinated be the European Centre (ECPFE) Athens, Greece ( 2012-2013)
PUBLICATIONS
“The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the problems of legislative regulation of the relations in the area of ensuring the safety for the population, territory, resources and state economical and political structures in emergencies”. Armenian Centre for National and International Studies. Accounting for the Decade. Yerevan, Armenia 2004, pages 283-309. “The law and reality” Journal, 2002, N 2, 3, 6. Yerevan, Armenia
“National Report on disaster reduction in the Republic of Armenia” for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (18-22 January, 2005 Kobe, Japan) .Published on the web-site of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
“Risk assessment mission in Kosovo”. School of Civil Protection in Kosovo” Module 12: Organization of Relief. Council of Europe’s EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement and UN International Organization fof Migration, Strasbourg- Geneva, 2001.
Counter terrorism training for school age children in Armenia “Crisis Response” Journal 2005, November, the United Kingdom.
“Proposals for developing and implementing the Program of training children in the skills of recognizing and properly reacting to terrorist assassinations or at the danger of such assassinations”, OEDC “School safety and security, “Lessons in danger”, 2005, Paris, France.
“The new Program of instructing the peacekeeping sub-units on conduct standards when contacting with civil population”. Emergency situations and peacemaking operations. “HAYKAKAN BANAK” (“ARMENIAN ARMY) Military-scientific quarterly of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia. N 3-4 (41-42), 2004, pages 77-82.
“Concept of Legislative Base Creation in the Sphere of Protection of Population, Prevention and Emergency Response”. Partnership for Peace seminar. Proceedings. The legal Basis for Civil Emergency Planning. Follow-up of the Stockholm Proposals. 8-10th June 1998, Stockholm, Sweden.
“Problems and directions of regional security and cooperation in case of cross border emergencies”. Partnership for Peace Seminar. Proceedings. Civil Aspects of Crisis Management. International Cooperation and Good Neighborly Relations. Stockholm-Sweden 29 September- 2 October 1997.
“Ensuring the survival of the population and the economy in emergencies within the national security context”. “Armenian Army”. Military-scientific journal N 1-2, 1997.
CONFERENCES
During 1995-2011 The Center actively participated in more than 30 International Conferences and Seminars held by the United Nations Organization, European Union, Council of Europe and NATO:
2011 July 8, Republic of San Marino : International Conference: “The Fukushima nuclear accident: is it another Chernobyl?” Presented paper:” Some aspects of energy safety and security and development of nuclear power in Armenia” ( the lessons from Fukushima)
2009 November 5-6, Athens, Greece : International Workshop:” Human rights in disasters: search and rescue operations in disasters, especially for vulnerable people” Presented paper:” Disaster risk reduction and the protection of vulnerable people- preparedness and preventive measures
2009, November 23-24 , Antalya, Turkey : International Workshop on “Disaster training/education” Presented paper:” Training community to deal with disasters”
2008 October 27-28, Istanbul, Turkey : International Workshop: “For a new governance of natural risks” Presented paper:” National and Municipal “Campaigns” on informing and warning the population about emergencies at central and municipal levels: a basis for a regional early warning system for the Southern Caucasian countries and neighboring states in trans- frontier emergencies”.
2008, September 22-23 Kiyv, Ukraine : International Workshop: “ Public authorities and civil society for a safe European nuclear future “Learning from Chernobyl Legacy to make European nuclear energy safer: the role of local communities, authorities and central governments in emergency preparedness and management” Presented paper:” Informing the population about radiological risk; the case of Armenia”
2007, October 29-30, Pathos, Cyprus : Euro-Mediterranean Workshop : “Disaster reduction at schools” Presented paper: “Training Program aimed at preparing vulnerable people, especially children to respond adequate in emergencies”
2005 January 18-22 Kobe Japan : World Conference on Disaster Risk reduction Presented paper :” The World Conference and problems of disaster risk reduction in the developing mountainous, landlocked countries ( the case of the Republic of Armenia)
2003 October 6-8 Madrid, Spain : Euro-Mediterranean Forum on disaster reduction Presented paper: “The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the problems of legislative regulation of the Republic of Armenia in the area of ensuring safety to people, territories recourses and state economic and political structures in emergencies”
2003, 12-14 November, Paris, France : OECD International Seminar on school safety and security Presented paper:“Program for training children in the skills of recognizing and properly reacting in case of terrorist assassinations or at the danger of such assassinations”.
1999 September 27- October 1, Czech Republic : PFP International Course : “Regional civil emergency planning /civil military co-operation” Presented paper:” Problems and direction of regional co-operation of Southern Caucasus states and adjacent regions in the area of trans- border emergency prevention and response”
1998, June,8-10 Stockholm, Sweden : PFP International Seminar :” The legal basis for civil emergency planning: follow-up of the Stockholm Proposals” Presented paper:” Concept of building a legislative base in the area of protection of the population and emergency prevention and response”
1997 September 29-October 2, Stockholm, Sweden : PFP International Seminar:” Civil aspects of crisis management. International cooperation and good neighborly relations” Presented paper:” Issues of regional cooperation in neighboring countries in the area of prevention of emergencies and disaster risk reduction”
