The Aarhus Centres are internationally recognized as key platforms for promoting environmental democracy, transparency, and public participation.
From 30 to 31 October, the annual meeting organized by the by the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna brought together over 40 representatives of Aarhus Centres, national coordinators of the Aarhus Convention, international organizations, and civil society.
Participants discussed the role of Aarhus Centres in supporting the implementation of the UNECE Aarhus Convention and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on access to justice in environmental matters, protection of environmental defenders, and community-based disaster risk reduction.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov, Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, emphasized that the Aarhus Centres play a vital role in promoting environmental democracy and good governance by connecting governments, civil society, and local communities. He emphasized the role of the Yerevan Aarhus Center as a cornerstone in the establishment of these important platforms.
Marco Keiner, Director of the Environment Division at UNECE, underlined the continued relevance of the Aarhus Convention in ensuring environmental rights and accountability.
In his keynote speech, Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, reaffirmed the need to protect individuals and groups advocating for environmental justice.
Marie Chakryan, Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Environment of the RA and National Coordinator of the Aarhus Convention participated in the meeting. She emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacities of stakeholders involved in promoting environmental justice and ensuring the effective implementation of environmental legislation.
Albert Haroyan, Coordinator of the Dilijan Aarhus Centre, delivered a speech highlighting the role of Aarhus Centres in disaster risk management at the local level. Tatev Lazaryan, a member of the Public Awareness and Monitoring Centre NGO and a student at BOKU University in Vienna, also took part in the event as a representative of the civil society of Armenia.
The 2025 Aarhus Centres Annual Meeting was made possible through the contributions of Italy, Germany, and Norway to the OSCE extra-budgetary project "Strengthening Aarhus Centres in the OSCE Area to Promote Good Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development."