Armenian Communities
The European Armenian Federation (EAFJD) is an umbrella organization that coordinates the activities of 14 member organizations across Europe; Sweden, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Austria, and the United Kingdom. The member organizations, also called committees of the defense of Armenian cause (ANCs) are groups of specialists, experts, and active citizens of their countries that advocate for the issues of Armenian community.
The ANCs are grassroot non-governmental community based organizations that represents the citizens of Europe of Armenian origin and are working on the issues of concern of the Armenian communities in their respective countries. The ANCs empower the Armenian community making their voice heard and raising their problems. Very often the ANCs take up the role of the interlocutors between the Armenian communities and the decision makers and high officials of Europe.
On regular basis the 14 chapters organize various events, conferences, exhibitions, film screenings sensitizing the local communities, representatives of academia and high ranking officials on the issues of the Armenian cause-recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the recognition of the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and the development of democratic institutions in Armenia, as well as enhancing the EU-Armenian relations among others. Besides the organized events, the ANCs also translate and publish reports and positions papers and distribute them to wider public. The members of the ANCs are active citizens in their countries; they participate in political, cultural, and academic life representing not only the Armenian community, but also their country of residence.