National and Regional Laws and Policies
on Internal Displacement

ARMENIA

Republic of Armenia Law on Population Protection in Emergency Situations

Purpose: The Republic of Armenia’s Law on Population Protection in Emergency Situations outlines a series of responsibilities that Armenian citizens and their government owe to victims of major accidents caused by natural disasters, pandemic and conventional and biological weaponry. The Law elaborates the rights of victims to have access to information in emergency situations and for all to be made aware of protection mechanisms to both prevent and address emergency situations.

Responsibilities: The Armenian government is responsible for directing action in emergency situations and monitoring its implementation. State regional bodies and local authorities are those who organize emergency response activities on the ground, including population protection work and restoration projects that seek to reduce the effects of emergency situations. It is the responsibility of the republic-level body authorized to deal with population protection to gather funds and organize procedures under this law.  

Content: The Armenian law breaks down the responsibilities of each level of government in an emergency situation but tasks the coordination and monitoring of all operations to an authorized republic-level body. This body is also responsible for organization of funding, training and for the campaign of public awareness of population protection measures in emergency situations.   

Other provisions of note include: 

• Requirement that dangerous production lines be distributed in ways so as not to endanger the Armenian population. [Ch.2 Art. IV(a)]
• Requirement to monitor radiation, chemical and bacteriological hazards [Ch.2 Art. IV(d)]
• Requirement that those engaged in population protection necessarily observe and watch for environmental, water and food contamination.
• Provision of equivalent compensation for private property taken into state possession in emergency situations for public and state needs. [Ch.2 Art.V(j)]
• The regional government is responsible for the transportation of IDPs away from affected areas.[Ch.3 Art. VIII]
• Obligates all citizens of the Republic of Armenia to participate in the implementation of population protection activities. [Ch.5 Art. XVIII]