The Conference on the prohibition of discrimination took place on 11 November. It was organized by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) with the assistance of the Kingdom of Neteherlands.
The conference was directed at revealing the problems relating to discrimination and intolerance in Armenia and suggest effective mechanisms of preventing various forms of discrimination. Representatives from RA state institutions, international organizations, embassies, Armenian NGOs and other individuals took part at the conference. Armenian speakers referred to various forms of discrimination and concrete cases in Armenia.
International Law expert Arayik Ghazaryan presented the manifestations of discrimination in Armenia, besides he also referred to the discrimination based on religion, as well as to the problems of discrimination against disabled people and women.
Experts from Moldova and Georgia presented the recently-adopted legislation in their countries prohibiting the discrimination and their experience in the fight against discrimination.
RA Deputy Minister of Justice Arman Tatoyan came up with a speech at the conference. He highlighted the importance of similar programs, mentioning. “It is acceptable for us that the international experience is also presented, such countries are selected which are close to our country in legal terms. There are various legal norms in Armenia which are to regulate this field”.
EPF Director Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan said. “The key word here is the word “Violence”. To understand violence we should see its roots in the society, why is it so common in Armenian society? It seems that in our society which has faced much violence in its history, this defect shouldn`t have been common, but the situation is the contrary”, mentioned Mr. Ter-Gabrielyan.
He also referred to the forms of violence, underlining domestic violence. “Now we gradually see that it is secretly manifested in the family where we should enter and understand the problem”, EPF director stated. At the end of the Conference a documentary was shown on religious tolerance.
