European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy
| File:Logo Eafjd.jpg | |
| Motto | Promoting a European approach to Armenian issues |
|---|---|
| Established | 2002 |
| Location |
|
| Kaspar Karampetian | |
| Website | eafjd |
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) (Armenian: ՀՅԴ Եվրոպայի Հայ դատի գրասենյակ) is a grassroots umbrella organization and represents a significant part of the Armenian diaspora in Europe. It was established in 2000 in Paris. In 2002, the organization moved its head office to Brussels. The EAFJD is the main interlocutor promoting Armenian issues in the European Union and international organizations.[1] As an umbrella organization, the EAFJD coordinates the activities of its member-organizations currently in 13 European countries. The organization also promotes and contributes to the activities of the Armenian communities across Europe.[2]
Areas of activism[edit]
- Recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide
- Advocacy for the safety and the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh Republic (Nagorno-Karabakh) to determine their own present and future; overcoming the isolation imposed on the people of Artsakh by Azerbaijan
- Fostering and deepening the EU-Armenia relations
- Raising awareness on the issues of the Armenian refugees from the Middle East
Activities[edit]
Armenian Genocide recognition[edit]
The EAFJD’s activities aim at the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey and reparations.[3] Since its establishment, the EAFJD has been also advocating for the condemnation and recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the parliaments of various European countries, as well as the European Parliament.[4][5] The EAFJD contributed to the adoption of European Parliament resolution in April 2015 which reaffirms EP’s condemnation on the Armenian Genocide and urges Turkey to come to terms with its past.[6][7]
Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh[edit]
A focal aspect of the EAFJD’s activities is advocacy for the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh to decide their own present and future as well as live in peace and dignity.[8][9]
The EAFJD regularly undertakes various initiatives and projects aimed at promoting people-to-people contact and exchange with the people of Artsakh. In order to foster dialogue between the EU and Artsakh, the organization puts special emphasis on the development of the parliamentary diplomacy between the National Assembly of Artsakh and legislative bodies of the EU member states, as well as the European Parliament. During the past few years the EAFJD actively contributed to the establishment of friendship groups with Artsakh in several parliaments in Europe.[10][11][12] The EAFJD organizes and facilitates fact-finding missions of public and political figures to Artsakh in order to obtain firsthand information about the reality and developments in the country.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
The EAFJD’s aim is to overcome the stereotype of Artsakh [21] as a conflict zone and present various aspects of its society and the daily life of the people of Artsakh, as well as its rich tourism potential and unique cultural heritage.[22] [23]
The organization makes continuous efforts towards strengthening democracy, supporting the active civil society, contributing to the economic development and advancing human rights in Artsakh.
EU-Armenia relations[edit]
One of the goals of the EAFJD is to strengthen the ties and deepen cooperation between Armenia and the EU member-states. In 2013, with common efforts of the Mission of Armenia to the EU and the EAFJD a friendship group with Armenia was established in the European Parliament.[24][25] The group was relaunched in February 2015, after the European Parliament’s elections of 2014. The friendship group is currently comprised of around 50 MEPs and fosters the cooperation between the sides.[26] As of 2018, the organization initiated the Vahan Hovhannisyan Internship Program which gives an opportunity to young Armenian professionals to get acquainted with the work of the EAFJD, as well as that of the European institutions, in particular the European Parliament.[27][28]
Armenian Communities in the Middle East[edit]
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy sensitizes on the issues of the Armenian communities in the Middle East, notably in Syria. In this framework the EAFJD initiated and facilitated a fact-finding mission comprising Belgian MP George Dallemagne and a number of journalists to the Syrian cities of Kessab and Lattakia to obtain up-to-date information on the situation of Christian minorities, particularly Armenians living there.[29][30]
In 2017 the European Armenian Federation hosted the Prelate of Aleppo Armenians, Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian. He held a number of meetings with European and Belgian decision-makers, including EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management Christos Stylianides. During the meeting they discussed the situation of Armenians of Syria and possible ways to assist them.[31] In the scope of the visit, the EAFJD co-organized a fundraising event to support the Armenian community of Aleppo.[32]
Community Activism[edit]
As an umbrella organization, the EAFJD coordinates the activities of its member-organizations- Committees for the Defense of the Armenian Cause (ANCs) in Europe and organizes events so as to make the voice of the Armenians of diaspora heard.[33][34] Every four years the EAFJD organizes the European Armenian Convention which brings together Armenian and European officials, politicians religious leaders, representatives of academia, media, civil society to discuss challenges as well as the ways ahead.[35][36] The most recent convention took place in Brussels in 17-18 October 2017.[37][38][39]
Short-Term Observation Missions to Artsakh[edit]
Acknowledging the crucial role of election observation in democracy-building and promoting human rights, especially in new emerging democracies, such as Artsakh, the EAFJD deploys short-term observation missions (STOs) to the electoral processes in Artsakh Republic based on the election observation methodology of the OSCE/ODIHR. In 2015 the EAFJD deployed an independent international STO mission to obverse the parliamentary elections in Artsakh.[40]
In 2017 another short-term international mission was deployed to observe the Referendum on the drafted Constitution of Artsakh.[41]
References[edit]
- ↑ "EAFJD launched".
- ↑ "EAFJD booklet" (PDF).
- ↑ "Cilicia Catholicosate Files Appeal in European Court".
- ↑ "European Parliament hosts conference on Armenian Genocide".
- ↑ "European Parliament Urges EU Member States to Recognize Armenian Genocide".
- ↑ "European Parliament resolution on the Armenian Genocide".
- ↑ "European Parliament Adopts Resolution on Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, Calls on Turkey to Reconcile With Its Past".
- ↑ "ARTSAKH PEACE PROCESS DISCUSSED AT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT".
- ↑ "Karabakh must be the subject, not an object of peace process: experts".
- ↑ "Artsakh friendship group in the Flemish Parliament".
- ↑ "Friendship Group between Dutch-speaking Belgian Parliamentarians and Artsakh Republic was launched".
- ↑ "Création de cercle d'amitié à l'égard de la République d'Artsakh".
- ↑ "German MEP Martin Sonneborn is in Artsakh on a fact-finding mission".
- ↑ "Martin Sonneborn (MdEP) Bericht aus Brü… äh: Bergkarabach".
- ↑ "Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations met with MEP Lars Adaktusson".
- ↑ "On the initiative of the EAFJD, Joris Poschet held meetings at NA of Armenia".
- ↑ "Member of the Belgian Federal Parliament Meeting in the Republic of Artsakh Parliament".
- ↑ "EAFJD Accompanies Belgian Deputies to Armenia and NKR".
- ↑ "Artsakh is Stronghold of Armenia and Europe, Says Flemish Lawmaker".
- ↑ "Visiting EU Lawmaker Backs Artsakh's Right to Self-Determination".
- ↑ "16 MEPs are asking Federica Mogherini why EU officials do not visit Artsakh".
- ↑ "Brussels hosts "Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh Hidden Treasure" exhibition".
- ↑ "EAFJD raised the issue of the isolation of the population of Artsakh at OSCE Human Rights Conference".
- ↑ "The EU-Armenia Friendship Group has been established in the European Parliament".
- ↑ "European Parliament-Armenia Friendship Group Established".
- ↑ "The EU-Armenia Friendship Group was officially re-launched yesterday-EAFJD".
- ↑ "EAFJD launches Vahan Hovhannisyan Internship Program".
- ↑ "Vahan Hovhannisyan Internship Program".
- ↑ "La RTBF, La Libre et le sénateur George Dallemagne en Syrie a l'invitation des CDCA de Belgique (ANC Belgium) et FEAJD (EAFJD)".
- ↑ "Une semaine en Syrie pour Georges Dallemagne".
- ↑ "The Prelate of Aleppo Armenians, Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian in Brussels, May 1-3".
- ↑ "Belgium's Armenian community holds fundraiser to support Syrian-Armenians".
- ↑ "Greek Parliament President Receives European Armenian and ANC Greece Delegation".
- ↑ "Armenian National Committee forms in Romania".
- ↑ "3rd European Armenian Convention was held in Brussels".
- ↑ "Third European Armenian Convention Held in Brussels".
- ↑ "Demand for recognition of Armenian Genocide, Artsakh, Armenia-EU ties: Agenda of congress of European-Armenians approved".
- ↑ "Artsakh President attends 4th European Armenian Convention".
- ↑ "Fourth Armenian Conference of Europe in Brussels".
- ↑ "European Armenian Federation for Justice & Democracy deployed a ten-member team of professional Short Term Observers".
- ↑ "EAFJD Observation Mission Releases Initial Report on Artsakh Referendum".
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