OSCE Office organizes leadership training for national minority youth in Armenia

YEREVAN, 29 July 2008 - Empowerment and development of leadership skills of national minority youth is the focus of a five-day training course that started today in Lusakert with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The course, which is being held by non-governmental organization World Independent Youth Union (WIYU), brings together 25 young individuals, representing 11 registered national minorities in Armenia, including Assyrians, Belorusians, Georgians, Germans, Greeks, Jews, Kurds, Poles, Russians, Ukrainians and Yezidis.

"The protection of minority rights, and especially the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, has always been a central priority of our Office. This includes activities in the field of legislation, cultural programmes and education," said Marc Bojanic, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The trainers from WIYU, the Council of Europe and the Government Department on Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs, among others, will teach participants basic human rights principles, issues related to participation and citizenship, and the role of NGOs in community development.

"The main goal of the course is to develop leadership skills among the youth of national minorities and create the conditions for their participation in discussions affecting their rights. We believe that this training will help to mobilize participants to better protect their rights and interests," said Tatevik Margaryan, President of WIYU.

The training course is part of a wider tolerance project, by the OSCE Office and the Armenian State Department on Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs, aimed at fostering the development and preservation of the culture and identity of national minorities.