MLRI Holds a Round-table Discussion on Mining Legislation Gaps

The AUA Center for Responsible Mining and the Government of Armenia organized a round-table discussion on the gaps in Armenia’s mining legislation.

The key presenter at the round-table was Jonathan Fulcher, an international mining law expert from the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) of the University of Queensland who presented the main findings of six working papers developed by SMI for MLRI. Mr. Fulcher noted that a number of things stuck out from the analysis of the current situation. Although the framework of laws with regard to the mining sector was reasonable, detailed policies and procedures for companies on how to engage are required. According to Mr. Fulcher, an important thing to understand is that environmental licenses should not be licenses to pollute. He also highlighted the idea of corporate accountability citing Australian legislation, which, for instance, fines the members of the corporate group if a polluting member of the group becomes insolvent.

The Mining Legislation Reform Initiative (MLRI) is a project of the American University of Armenia’s Center for Responsible Mining (AUA CRM), and receives primary support from the Tufenkian Foundation.

Wealthy Parents, Happy Children

Last year, the Vanadzor Shogh Center established a partnership with the Helsinki Group in Spitak, after which it launched a program for vulnerable women facing gender discrimination and domestic abuse. This program is designed to help women to become entrepreneurs and provide sustainable income for their families.

The participants of this program are the parents of children who attend the Shogh Center. In the beginning, 18 women were selected and trained on how to write a business plan, assess their needs and develop a budget. After the training, they identified the type of entrepreneurship in which they would like to be involved and submitted business plans accordingly. The Helsinki Group reviewed these plans and approved them to receive financial support.

The participants received funding in March 2016 and started their small businesses. The area of their activities is very broad: make-up and nail artists, hairstylists, confectioners, tailors etc.

It is foreseen that in two years’ time, 200 women will receive support – 60 will obtain certified vocational trainings, 120 women will receive financial support to kick-off their small businesses, and 80 will obtain job placement support.

In the first 9 months since the funding of small businesses, a lot has changed in the lives of these women and their families. They are now able to provide their children with food and basic necessities and spend more time with them, considering that most are home-based business.

The Vanadzor “Shogh” Daycare Center is a joint program of the Tufenkian Foundation and the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA).