HayRights platform: making understanding laws accessible in Armenia through civic tech
Excerpt:
In Armenia, laws are often written in a language many people can’t easily understand. As a result, many citizens, especially young people, rural communities, and vulnerable groups, struggle to access their rights in practice.
In Armenia, many citizens struggle to fully understand laws and regulations, leaving them unable to access key services and rights. Although laws and regulations are publicly available, they are often written in complex language that is difficult to understand without legal training.
This creates a gap between legal systems and everyday people, where rights exist in theory but are not always accessible in practice. Young people, rural communities, and vulnerable groups are especially affected, limiting their ability to protect their rights and participate fully in civic life.
A key issue is not only access to legal services, but access to clear understanding. Many people are unsure what their rights are regarding employment, housing, family matters, or digital safety. Others avoid contacting lawyers due to cost, lack of trust, or uncertainty about whether their issue is important enough. As a result, many small legal problems remain unresolved and can escalate over time.
To address this, Marine Harutyunyan developed HayRights, a civic-tech platform designed to bridge the gap between citizens and the legal system by combining artificial intelligence (AI) with human legal support. The platform aims to make legal information simple, accessible, and actionable for everyone in Armenia.
The name HayRights reflects both identity and purpose: “Hay” is what Armenians call themselves in their native language, and the country is known as Hayastan. Combined with “Rights,” the name conveys the idea of protecting and strengthening the rights of Armenians.
At its core, HayRights includes an AI-powered legal assistant trained on Armenian legal information. Users can ask questions in plain language and receive clear explanations of their rights and possible next steps. When a situation is complex, the system recommends connecting with a human lawyer through the platform.
Alongside the AI assistant, HayRights provides a system for legal consultations. Users can submit cases, describe their issues, and request support from verified legal professionals, ensuring access to both free and paid consultations depending on the support available.
Because the platform is fully online, it also removes geographic barriers, allowing people from remote regions, rural communities, or those with limited mobility or fewer opportunities to access legal support on equal footing. This makes legal assistance more inclusive and accessible to groups who are often excluded from traditional in-person services.
Beyond individual support, the platform aims to strengthen civic participation and legal awareness. When people understand their rights, they are more likely to engage in democratic processes, report violations, and participate in public life. Legal awareness becomes a foundation for civic empowerment.
HayRights also responds to broader challenges in Armenia, including misinformation, limited digital literacy, and unequal access to resources. By offering a simple, mobile-friendly platform, it reduces structural and geographic barriers between citizens and legal systems, especially for those with fewer opportunities.
Technically, the platform is built with a strong focus on ethics, transparency, and human oversight. The AI system is continuously improved through updated legal data and feedback from lawyers and users, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
Ultimately, HayRights aims to make legal knowledge understandable and accessible. It shows how technology, when designed responsibly, can strengthen civic engagement, reduce inequality of access, and support a more informed and empowered society.
