YEREVAN. – The Personal Data Protection Agency of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia has become a full member in the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN).

The Ministry informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that GPEN was formed in 2010, and in response to a 2007 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  Recommendation on Cross-border Cooperation in the Enforcement of Laws Protecting Privacy. That document recommended cooperation among privacy authorities in areas such as education and enforcement.

It further specified a number of tasks for the network: Discuss the practical aspects of privacy law enforcement cooperation; share best practices in addressing cross-border challenges; work to develop shared enforcement priorities; and support joint enforcement initiatives and awareness campaigns.

GPEN members include privacy authorities from Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Macau SAR (China), Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Guernsey, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Estonia, Lithuania, Albania, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.