CivilNet host Patrick Elliott interviews recently appointed Canadian Ambassador to Armenia Andrew Turner. They discuss Canada’s priorities and partnership with Armenia, exploring ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation across sectors from investment to peacebuilding. Listeners will gain insight into Canada’s vision for the region and its commitment to supporting Armenia’s continued development and security.
-
TAP conference explores media integrity and self-regulation in Armenia
By Paul Vartan Sookiasian While Armenia’s growing media industry is mostly free, it is coming of age in an era of disinformation. A conference held this week by The Armenia Project (TAP) explored whether the country can develop independent mechanisms for self-regulation to foster journalistic integrity and address the challenges that disinformation poses. TAP is an educational non-profit which aims to advance the country’s communications ecosystem, Armenia has been exploring self-regulation initiatives since 2007 with a press council that developed a Code of Ethical Principles supported by 85 media outlets. The council develops policies and expert opinions on media complaints, […]
-
Ethical Journalism: Values Worth Fighting For
Susan McKay, Ireland’s Press Ombudsperson, joins host Eric Hacopian to discuss how to promote ethical journalism at a time when the field is beset by distrust and disinformation. McKay shares her experience promoting the principles of traditional journalism through press councils that adjudicate complaints about reporting and how they can help build trust in the media and protect democracy.
-
Aurora panelists share insights on global displacement
During a panel discussion at the Human Rights and Humanitarian Forum in Los Angeles in May 2024, experts, lawyers, and activists gathered to discuss the global refugee crisis, the rise in forced displacement, and potential solutions . Organized by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative in collaboration with UCLA’s The Promise Institute for Human Rights, the discussion was moderated by Nasra Ismail, U.S. Enterprise Executive Director at Alight. Speakers included UCLA Law Professor Ahilan Arulanantham, Founder of Empower Rez Gardi, Chief of Mission at IOM Mexico Dana Graber Ladek, and The Sentry Co-Founder John Prendergast.
-
Sarik Minasyan elected caretaker mayor of Gyumri in controversial primaries
By Alexander Pracht Non-partisan candidate Sarik Minasyan won an open primary election held by the ruling Civil Contract party and will become the interim mayor of Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city, to serve until the upcoming spring elections, amid controversy over the procedure as the country’s opposition and civil society groups view the decision to hold the primaries undemocratic. Minasyan formerly served as a member of the national parliament, representing the liberal Bright Armenia party, once allied with the Civil Contract but later part of the opposition and now a non-parliamentary force. He defeated six other competitors, including Karen Sarukhanyan, […]
-
Armenia must reform state secrets law, new TI report says
Armenia’s new state secrets law, which came into effect this year, prohibits the disclosure of nearly all defense expenditure data, significantly restricting the country’s 2003 Freedom of Information Act provisions. According to a new report by Transparency International, the law needs urgent reform to ensure transparency and accountability in the country’s defense sector. The report examines the challenges of transparency in the defense sector globally and makes significant findings regarding transparency issues in Armenia’s defense sector. Global military expenditure has reached a record $2.4 trillion. The scale of spending requires improved information access to tackle corruption, promote accountability, and strengthen […]
