Meeting of members of the Council for Constitutional Reforms and Professional Commission on Constitutional Reforms with civil society representatives and representatives of extra-parliamentary forces takes place ahead of Constitution Day

Today the Republic of Armenia celebrates Constitution Day. Throughout the years, the first Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, which was adopted through a pan-national referendum on 5 July 1995, has been amended twice, in observance of its main principles.

A need for more reforms emerged after the last amendments to the Constitution, and, for this purpose, the members of the Council for Constitutional Reforms and the Professional Commission for Constitutional Reforms — set up upon the decision of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and chaired by Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan — are holding discussion meetings with citizens and civil society representatives.

Today, a meeting of the members of the Council for Constitutional Reforms and the Professional Commission for Constitutional Reforms with representatives of the Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and extra-parliamentary forces took place ahead of Constitution Day; the basics of constitutional order; the form of governance; the separation and balancing of the legislative and executive powers; constitutional solutions related to human rights, the judiciary, prosecution and investigation bodies, as well as the constitutional guarantees for local self-governance were discussed during the meeting.

Over the past months, more than 10 similar meetings have been held with the public at large for needs assessment and identification Discussions were organised with representatives of environmental organisations, organisations dealing with the problems of persons with disabilities, religious organisations, as well as higher education institutions who, apart from the issues existing in their respective fields, made recommendations related to their activities and studies.

Outside of Yerevan, the members of the Council and the Commission had meetings with the residents of Shirak, Lori and Vayots Dzor Marzes. Fundamental issues related to culture and education, as well as the form of governance of the State and a number of other sectors were discussed during the meeting.

The members of the Council and the Commission will continue to show active participation in different events/discussions devoted to the constitutional reforms and held by different organisations.