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Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: root@acnis.am or info@acnis.am
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December 16, 2009

ACNIS Holds Roundtable Discussion on Gender Equality and the State of
Women’s Rights in Armenia

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) convened a roundtable discussion today examining gender
equality and the state of women’s rights in Armenia.

After welcoming the participants, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
presented a brief overview of the issues, noting that `for most
countries, the issues of gender equality and the state of women’s
rights serve as key indicators of the overall development of society
and the state of democracy.’ Giragosian added that `in the case of
Armenia as well, the conditions of the female population, including
the opportunities for Armenian women in the workplace, the educational
system and in politics, present revealing insight into the real
conditions of today’s Armenia.’

The ACNIS Director explained that today’s event on gender equality and
women’s rights was the opening event in a larger ACNIS `Gender
Project,’ aimed at `advocating greater rights and opportunities for
women in Armenia.’ He then added that ACNIS `seeks to raise awareness
of the plight of women and the need to combat domestic abuse and
violence targeting women.’

Following Giragosian’s opening, the first speaker was Ms. Jina
Sargizova, the Project Coordinator for the UNFPA Programme on
Gender-Based Violence, who provided a detailed presentation of UN
activities in this sphere. Sargizova noted several significant
problems, including the lack of awareness, the absence of effective
legislation and inadequate institutional capacity in Armenia to
address the issue.

The next speaker was Tsovinar Harutyunyan, the Senior Democratization
Assistant for the OSCE Office in Yerevan, then presented an overview
of OSCE efforts in this area and stressed the potential of women as a
resource that is not being fully utilized.

A prominent attorney in Armenia, Tiruhy Nazaretyan, then addressed the
issue of women’s rights in the workplace and highlighted the fact that
for the same job, women are most often paid less than men performing
the same work.

The least speaker was ACNIS Analyst Armine Ghazaryan, who focused on
the role of women in Armenian politics. According to Ghazaryan,
`women often feel themselves at a disadvantage in comparison with men
because their life is based on the economic, political, psychological
and social dependence on men.’ She added that `the objective and
subjective approaches regarding the role of women in politics were
related to the existence of stereotypes in society.’ She went on to
say that `the approach regarding the political electoral contest and
the general issue should be changed but must not try to equalize man
and woman, as we will have real results and effective activity if a
woman, with her female privileges, does not emulate man but expresses
herself with her own position and role.’

The presentations were then followed by a series of questions and
answers, and featured a lively exchange among several leading Armenian
analysts, experts and journalists.

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The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is
a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan,
Armenia. As an independent, objective institution committed to
conducting professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to
raise the level of public debate and seeks to broaden public
engagement in the public policy process, as well as fostering greater
and more inclusive public knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the
institutional initiative of Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first
Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past fifteen years, ACNIS has
acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source of professional
independent research and analysis covering a wide range of national
and international policy issues.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email root@acnis.am or info@acnis.am;
or visit