Article 14 para 6 of the draft amendments stipulates that political parties shall “gear at least 15 per cent of state funding towards the conduct, publication and dissemination of the studies of the political party on ideology, programme goals and public policy, as well as the actions that contribute to the involvement of women, national minorities and youth in the activities of the political party”. According to the draft amendments, the results of the studies conducted through state funds must be available for the public. It is laudable and in line with international good practice to reserve some part of state funding for initiatives advancing the political participation of women and other groups that have historically been marginalised in terms of political participation. These initiatives are in line, inter alia, with CEDAW,47 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action48, Recommendation 2003(3),49 MC Decision 7/0950 as well as the Joint ODIHR-Venice Commission Guidelines on Political Party Regulation.51 However, the provision remains vague and groups two issues (awareness raising on party ideology and goals as well as advancement of women, national minorities and youth) together in a way that, ultimately, does not safeguard that any will be spent on the latter. In line with Article 29 of the CRPD, Armenia is also obliged to create an environment in which persons with disabilities can realise their right to political participation. It is therefore recommended to separate awareness raising initiatives from initiatives to increase the political participation of women, national minorities, youth (and persons with disabilities) and to allot a percentage of public funding for both of these initiatives separately – or only to the initiatives aimed at increasing the political participation of specific groups. More generally, it could be difficult to assess whether activities are done in the interest of the party or in the interest of the respective groups. In addition, the Law should clearly state which body would verify if the requirements are fulfilled. The authorities expressed their readiness to have separately earmarked funds for two separate purposes and to add a reference to persons with disabilities. Moreover, the Law should not be interpreted as obliging political parties to direct their core funding to specific activities, but rather provide additional funds for the listed purposes.
