PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: hovhannes.sarajyan@undp.org<mailto:hovhannes.sa rajyan@undp.org>
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UNDP Focuses on Regional Needs through Cultural Lens

On 21 April 2009 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in
Armenia, within the framework of UNDP project "Music and Public
Outreach in the Regions: Highlighting the Needs of the Regions through
a Cultural Lens," organized a concert and a public awareness campaign
in the city of Gyumri dedicated to human rights and tolerance issues
in Shirak region. The performance was given by the National Chamber
Orchestra of Armenia (NCOA), led by maestro Aram Gharabekian.

The main objective of the project is to support the revival of
cultural life in the regions, break the cultural isolation and raise
public awareness on the needs of communities using culture and,
particularly, music as vehicle for this purpose.

The project has established an important partnership with "Shoghakat"
TV Company, which is in a process of producing documentary films
highlighting the needs in regions where concerts took place. Subjects
of those films include issues related to poverty, unemployment,
environmental challenges, vulnerability to disasters, gender,
tolerance and human rights issues. These films will be broadcasted on
one of the main countrywide TV channels. It is anticipated that these
films will broaden the public awareness throughout Armenia on
development challenges in the country and will ensure that the
commitments by national decision-makers to address regional issues
remain as priorities on the public and political agenda, even during
the crisis times UNDP, together with its partners, will officially
launch these films after the completion of concerts.

The promotion and protection of human rights and tolerance constitute
a basis of the UN value system. The UNDP in Armenia is committed to
work with the Government of Armenia and the civil society on practical
measures to improve human rights standards and support the development
of its institutional infrastructure across the country.

The event in Gyumri was the sixth in the series. The last event is
scheduled to be held in the city of Dilijan on 5 May to address
environmental issues in Tavush region.