From security to women’s employment issues. The Human Rights Defender and the Officer-in-Charge of the UN Population Fund Armenia Office visited the village of Syunik of Kapan Community. The Human Rights Defender’s Office reported.

Mr.Arman Tatoyan Human Rights Defender of the RA and Ms Tsovinar Harutyunyan, Head of the UN Population Fund Armenia Office, accompanied by Mr. Gevrog Parsyan, Kapan Mayor, visited Syunik village of Kapan Community.

The purpose of the visit to the village, which faced security and social problems after the war, was to listen to the residents, discuss the issues related to youth, women’s employment, economic development, promotion of social entrepreneurship, involvement of the elderly, healthy lifestyle and etc.

Residents raised a variety of issues, ranging from security to environmental issues. In particular, the residents noted that after the war, due to border processes, they were deprived of the opportunity to use the land, and in addition they face serious security problems as a result of the presence of Azerbaijani armed forces in the immediate vicinity of the village.

Ms Tsovinar Harutyunyan presented the work of the already successful women’s resource centers operating in Goris, Meghri and Kapan communities of Syunik region with the support of the UNFPA, the example of which has been spread in other regions of Armenia. With the help of resource centers, women obtain profession, get jobs, get involved in various programs.

The head of Kapan community Mr. Gevorg Parsyan presented at the meeting the steps taken by the municipality in connection with the improvement of the village infrastructure, the programs aimed at the social assistance of the people within its competence.

The Defender and the Head of the UN Population Fund Armenia Office discussed with the residents their needs, the opportunities available to improve them, and the issues related to women’s employment. The importance of cooperation with the Mayor and the staff was emphasized.
The results of the visit will be summarized, according to the nature of the problem; work will be done to solve the issues raised.