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On 4 April, the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA) organised a training on “Anti-Corruption Compliance in Business” for the representatives of businesses operating in Kapan, in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project. The objective of the project is to improve understanding on anti-corruption compliance of Armenia’s business sector and its practical application, as well as promoting public-private partnerships to support anti-corruption reforms.
Mr. Vache Baghdasaryan, head of ALA Kapan branch office made a welcoming speech, “We will assist you in the implementation of anti-corruption programs in your business on a free basis. This is a unique opportunity because as a result of legislative changes later, businesses will pay for this service,” he said.
Ms Mariam Zadoyan, Project Manager of the ALA’s Component of “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” project said that at the beginning of the training, the participants expressed a tough stance on the program, noting why it should be applied first in the business sphere and not in the state system. “As a result of the clarifications which we provided, they changed their attitude, understanding the role of business in the fight against corruption,” Mariam Zadoyan said.
Ms Lusine Nalbandyan noted that as a lawyer involved in this program, she highly appreciated the voicing by business representatives of legislative gaps that greatly hinder to their economic activity. “Our objective is firstly to inform business representatives about the anti-corruption compliance program, which is part of the anti-corruption education, and then introduce that plan into in yout organisations by identifying specific risks to each business. It is important that the internal rules, procedures, policies we will provide, would further be monitored and improved as needed. During the risk assessment game which was organised in the course of the training, the issue of legal regulation in the business sector was more evident. The lack of regulation at the regulatory level makes risk manifestations of corruption in the field more obvious,” Lusine Nalbandyan said.
Grigory Harutyunyan, who represented the “Lav Ynker” Limited Liability Company, told us during the interview that the company had about 25 employees at the moment.
“So far, I have been conducting different types of work and always preferred to work transparently because I realized that if I have an employee, who is not registered, it is already a violation. It is desirable that we train ourselves organise trainings for our employees, as the more informed the person would be, the more protected he is,” Grigory Harutyunyan said.
He also mentioned that during the course, the identifying the corruption risks and its assessment is very interesting because the organisation’s activities are directly linked to the society and corruption risks are not excluded.
According to Liana Gevorgyan, the head of the law office, although they were not familiar with the anti-corruption compliance program, but they always wanted to introduce it in the company. “I am participating in such training for the first time, and I believe I shall find time to work and get involved in this program,” he said.
In addition to theoretical lectures, the participants filled out pre-test and post-test for evaluation of their knowledge. They also played the “5 why’s” game, in particular why they need to introduce anti-Corruption Compliance Programs in their businesses.
The last group work was aimed at identifying corruption risks in their own businesses and presenting their prevention plan.
This material has been prepared in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Centre for International Private Enterprise”, the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Corporate Governance Centre” NGO and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” with financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the National Endowment for Democracy and the European Union.
