Aarhus Centers

On June 25, 1998, the Aarhus Convention was adopted in the city of Aarhus, Denmark, the purpose of which was to ensure access to information, public participation in environmental decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), being a link between human and environmental security, created a network of Aarhus centers in its region. Today, Aarhus Centers play a major role in promoting all three pillars of the Aarhus Convention.
They improve the awareness of the public and state authorities by disseminating information about the environment and carrying out many educational and training programs related to the implementation of the Convention.
Thanks to the Aarhus centers, the public can participate in the discussion of environmental issues. These centers also help the public participate in environmental decision-making.
On 2002, the Yerevan Aarhus Center was established at the initiative of the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Ministry of Nature Protection of the RA.
In 2002-2016, 15 Aarhus Centers have been actively operating in Armenia, which, due to their network and team work, have made environmental issues accessible to the broad sections of the RA population and have served as a platform for all interested parties. With their activities, the Aarhus Centers have contributed to raising the public's legal awareness and deep understanding of issues related to environmental changes, creating the atmosphere of civil responsibility, as well as improving management in the field of the environment.
Yerevan Aarhus Center currently operates as part of the Information Analysis Service of the "Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center" SNCO.