In September 2009, the Armenian Ministry of Justice proposed controversial amendments to Armenia's NGO law. In response, a group of Armenian NGOs voiced their concerns about the initiative. In November 2009, over 300 organizations campaigned against the proposed amendments. The OSCE issued a detailed analysis of the amendments in February 2010. After the Minister of Justice was fired and the Deputy Minister resigned in December 2010, the Civil Society Initiative reached an agreement with the Ministry of Justice on the amendments in March 2011. The campaign mobilized a large number of Armenian NGOs and successfully negotiated changes to the controversial amendments to Armenia's NGO law.

1. European CSOs in Advocacy, Campaigning and
Policy Dialogue
The case of NGO law campaign in Armenia: Lessons Learned
Open Forum regional consultation for Europe
Brussels, April 2011

2. The campaign
inception
• September 2009: Controversial amendments to NGO law initiative by
the Ministry of Justice
• October 2009: NGOs learn about the initiative from Parliament web site
mobilization
• November 2009: a group of NGOs voice their concern, Civil Society
Initiative mobilizes 300 organizations to campaign against the draft
• February 2010: OSCE issues a detailed analysis
new phase
• December 2010: Minister of Justice fired, Deputy Minister resigned
• March 2011: the Initiative reaches an agreement with Ministry of
Justice

3. Know your target
• Governments are living institutions
– human relations
– decision making process: formal and non
formal
– needs and priorities of government
agencies
• Tools you create
– Citizen guide to Government
– Government web sites
– Networks & umbrella organizations
– CIVICUS: Civil Society Index

4. Effective Communication
• information needs in policy process
– data sources
– analytical capacity
– less options, easier to make decisions
• communication channels
– traditional media
– new media
– personal communication
• relations with media (validity, gate keepers)

5. The Homework
• framing the issue matters
– data backed arguments
– process arguments
– are you FOR or AGAINST something
• educating about your issue
– CSOs, donors, government, media, public
• thou protest too much
– the power of the people
– the monster you create

6. Challenges or opportunities
• Negotiations: the power of the people
– melting pot or a salad
• Solutions, solutions, solutions
– offering alternatives
– expectations of the participants
– i want everything and right now!
• Communicating the victory
– prisoner dilemma
– channels of communication

7. Lessons
• Accountability towards whom?
– be carful what you wish for
– who sets the policy agenda
• Recognition of the role of CSOs
– in policy inception phase
• CSO enabling environment is the key!

8. European CSOs in Advocacy, Campaigning and
Policy Dialogue
The case of NGO law campaign in Armenia: Lessons Learned
Open Forum regional consultation for Europe
Brussels, April 2011