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Pool of mediators established in Armenia

A pool of 120 mediators has been established in Armenia to meet the mandatory mediation requirements for family law disputes in the country, introduced by the 2022 amendments to the country’s Civil Procedure Code. This reform aims to reduce the burden on courts and make the justice system more efficient and accessible.

Throughout 2024, a series of comprehensive trainings were conducted in co-operation with the Armenian Centre for Legislation Development” of the Ministry of Justice, Arbitration and Mediation Center (AMCA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). These trainings aimed to establish a qualified pool of mediators across the country.

Expert mediators from the Council of Europe led the training, combining theory with hands-on practice to equip participants with the skills necessary for real-world mediation challenges. The initiative created a professional mediators from various regions, fostering collaboration and impact at a national level.

To ensure the sustainability of mediation capacity, selected mediators will be further trained as trainers, strengthening local expertise, and ensuring long-term capacity in Armenia’s justice sector.

The European Union and the Council of Europe, through their joint efforts, continue to support Armenian authorities in enhancing the efficiency of the justice system for the benefit of all citizens.

This activity is part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project “Support to the Justice Reform in Armenia”.

 

 

YEREVAN, ARMENIA 13-16 November 2024
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The goal and objective of the project

The project "Support to the justice reform in Armenia" aimed to ensure that citizens of Armenia enjoy their rights in line with the European standards and benefit from accountable and professional justice system. It supported Armenian authorities to further advance the reform of the judicial system by strengthening its independence, accountability and professionalism. It also aimed to aid Armenian authorities ensure effective implementation of the new criminal justice legislation in line with European human rights standards.

The project was implemented as part of the third phase of the European Union and the Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance” running from 2023 until 2027. It built on the results of the previous phases of the joint programme in the field of strengthening justice. (Phase I 2015-2018 and Phase II 2019-2023).

Project duration

The project runs from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2026. 

The budget of the project

► The total project budget is EUR 1 430 000.
► The overall Programme budget is EUR 19.3 M (80% is co-funded by the European Union and 20% by the Council of Europe).

Who benefits from the project?
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Constitutional Court
  • Court of Cassation
  • General Assembly of Judges
  • Association of Judges
  • Justice Academy
  • Supreme Judicial Council
  • General Prosecutor’s Office
  • Human Rights Defender’s Office
  • Office of the Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters
  • Civil society organisations
  • The general public, including persons seeking the protection of their rights in courts
How did the project work?

Through a combination of tailored policy/legislative, capacity-building and awareness raising actions.

Achievements

► National authorities have the necessary capacity and tools to implement the Judicial and Legal Reforms Strategy for 2022-2026 in line with European standards and best practices.

► National authorities align legal framework and policies on judicial independence, impartiality and accountability with CoE standards.

► Judicial self-governing bodies’ and courts' capacity is enhanced to act in a professional, transparent and accountable manner.

► Capacity of the criminal justice stakeholders is strengthened to ensure effective implementation of new criminal justice legislation through harmonised policies, institutional and legal frameworks, and implementation practices.

Reference documents and additional information
Publications and resources

Publications

 Gender equality in the judiciary of Armenia: challenges and opportunities

 Gender Impact Assessment - The Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia and its Derivative Legal Acts

 Handbook on Improving the Quality of Judicial Decisions

 Mediation Referral Toolkit (in Armenian)

 The Administration and you

 Volume of Decisions of the Civil and Administrative Chamber for the period 01․01․2021 – 01․07․2022

Volumes of decision of the Admin and Civil Chambers of the Court of Cassation for the period of 01.07.2022 – 31.12.2023

 Volume of Decisions of the Criminal Chamber for the year 2021 by the Court of Cassation

CCJE Opinion n°25 (2022) on freedom of expression of judges (Armenian version)

 Volumes of decision of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation of Armenia (in Armenian)

Opinions of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) - Collection of Opinions Nos 1 to 18 (2017-2023)

 


 

What is the Partnership for Good Governance?

The “Partnership for Good Governance” (PGG) is a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe for strengthening good governance in the Eastern Partnership region*. The "Partnership for Good Governance" provides tailor-made support to Eastern Partnership countries to bring their legislation and practice closer to European standards in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy. It supports, in particular, Eastern Partnership countries’ domestic reforms to strengthen justice, counter economic crime, promote equality and non-discrimination, advance women’s access to justice and combat violence against women.

* While the Partnership for Good Governance does not include activities with the participation of the Belarusian authorities, activities may be organised with the representatives of Belarusian civil society and democratic forces as appropriate in line with the European Council Conclusions of February 2022 and the Decision of the Council of Europe Ministers’ Deputies of March 2022.