State of human rights in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Culture. RA Ombudsman’s speech

The RA Ombudsman’s Office published the part of the report of Karen Andreasyan that touches upon the state of human rights in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Culture.

The following shortcomings were registered in the actions of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Culture.

Ministry of Culture:

·The ministry implemented monitoring of only damaged monuments, while the practice shows that there is a need of attention towards other monuments as well.

·The issue of insufficient technical equipment in the theatres remains unsolved.

·The appropriate steps were not taken to assure the equal development of cultural life in all the regions.

·The issue of making the cultural institutions and buildings more accessible for people with disabilities is concerning.

· Effective measures were not taken to assure the participation of disabled people in the RA cultural life.

Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs:

·Only 3 events were organized during 2012 and not in all regions were included.

·The social and economic condition of the youth and young families in the RA regions is concerning.

·In some cases, the issue of transparency and abuse of the process of the state program “Young family, affordable housing” were raised.

·The issue of the construction of the yards, and especially football fields remains unsolved.

·The appropriate financing for the activation of the sport life of the people with disabilities, the inclusion of the former in the sport life and proving the opportunities for their participating in the Para-Olympic games lacks.

·Youth employment and job creation did not receive a practical solution.

Registered positive developments:

·Ministry in the scope of state youth policy gave 50 scholarships during 2012.

· In 2012 several sufficient steps were taken for the renovation and restoration of churches and other historical centers, in particular the monitoring of the technical conditions of the monuments, the restoration and renovation of the former.

·Events took place directed at the exposure, recognition, development, conservation and cultural cooperation of the ethnic minorities; in particular festival and competition-exhibitions, as well as the libraries were supplemented with the literature in the native language of the minorities.

·Free distribution of 86900 unit books published with the state order and support was implemented in the regions, libraries of the regional military units, Armenian organizations abroad, and the Armenian National Library was replenished with 2353 unit publications from abroad.