Sex-selective abortions, violations of employment and property rights – women face these serious issues in Armenian reality. A training on Women`s Rights was held today for lawyers, advocates and human rights activists of Yerevan in the framework of the “Influencing Women`s Rights Agenda” Project. The Project is implemented by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association with the financial support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Armenia.
AYLA President Karen Zadoyan delivered a welcoming speech and stated that the training is organized not only for women but also for men, as the above-mentioned issues relate both to men and women. K. Zadoyan informed that in the framework of the project free legal consultations on women`s rights issues are being provided in Yerevan and 4 regions of the RA since 1 May, 2015.
AYLA Board member, advocate Syuzanna Soghomonyan presented to the participants the property rights of women in the context of marriage, divorce and inheritance issues. According to her currently many property rights issues arise, when the marriage is not factually registered, in case of registered marriage the acquired property is being alienated by the husband, in case of not-registered incomes of the couples, etc. She also presented the reproductive rights of women, including the legal issues of the sex-selective abortions.
AYLA Legal adviser, advocate Mariam Zadoyan spoke about the domestic and international legal norms in the employment sphere, presented the existing issues of concern. According to her there are no provisions protecting from revenge the individuals willing to apply their rights at court against employers. Women do not also have legal protection if subjected to sexual harassment, as the sexual harassment is not considered as a legal issue.
She also presented the participatory issues of women in legislative, executive and judicial systems, and the legal acts regulating those. According to her one of the issues of concern is that the RA legislation does not set legal norms which will ensure women`s participation in the Local Self Governance Bodies in respective communities (excluding Yerevan City Assembly). There are also no legal norms ensuring women`s participation in the Boards of Business Companies. She also presented Armenia’s commitments under international treaties, and practical ways of enforcing women’s rights.
Participants of the Training raised the issues of their concern through Questions and Answers, took part in group works and watched thematic videos.
Let us remind that the Training is organized in the framework of the “Influencing Women`s Rights Agenda” project, which is implemented by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) with the financial support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Armenia. In the framework of the Project free legal consultations on women`s rights issues are being provided in Yerevan and 4 regions of the RA since 1 May, 2015.
