There is a unique tradition in Gegharkunik marz: the first toast which the men drink at the table during the party is for women. Moreover around 5 different toasts are made for women praising her as a spouse, mother of the family and sister, but never toasts are made for a woman as a community leader or a central person of a political party.
Today, the regular training on “Women’s Rights” for the SCO and the Community Elderly Councils’ representatives took place in Gavar City of the RA, in the framework of “Influencing the Women’s Rights Agenda” project.
Mr. Vanik Harutyunyan head of Gandzak Community had come accompanied with six members of the Council of Elderly of the village, all men. Heads of the Tsaghkashen, Sarukhan and Karmirgyugh Communities were present as well, and again all were men.
“We have women members of the Council of Elderly of our community, said the village head to the journalist of Iravaban.net. He explained that the woman member of Gandzak village Council of Elderly works as a teacher at school as well and that was the reason that she was not able to attend the seminar. We tried to clarify the percentage of the women’s involvement in the community work; it turned out that it is 20 %.
Women are honored in this marz, but there is no understanding about the women’s rights and neither there is a wish to talk about such rights. “We are a woman honoring and mother loving nation. Those derivative things – the employer will say this, Europe will say another thing, labor rights and so on, and these are different things. OK, what do you think, shall this woman give birth to a child or deal with politics?” said the village head and all members of the Council of Elderly agreed with him.
Mrs. Nelly Harutyunyan, the Head of Gegharkunik Branch of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association said that such situation is not widespread, however according to the recorded percentage, most part of the population in the region consider and view the woman as a mother and a housewife. “But that does not mean they do not honor their wives. In any case, there are families that he accepts that woman should work,” Mrs. Harutyunyan said.
The women participants of the workshop raised another problem, saying that the role of women in this region decrease due to the social situation. Ms Siarnush Manukyan, President of “Friendship – National Minorities” NGO spoke about the domestic violence cases. “Violence against the women comes from the poverty, there is no work, and means for living, children’s care, and as a result there are cases of violence in the families.”
Manush Nalbandyan, Lawyer of the regional branch of “The A.D.Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Center”, NGO had recorded violations of labor rights in the region. “I would not say that the violence are related to employment discrimination against the women, but in most cases there are unjustified reductions in the staff lists,” she said.
According to her the level of legal awareness among the women is low. “There were cases, where the person was dismissed on the grounds of pregnancy, but she was restored by the application and with our help.”
“In order to protect the women’s rights, the first need is to be aware of these rights,” mentioned Nelly Harutyunyan, the Head of Gegharkunik Branch of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association. According to her there are more preserved traditions in this marz than in the capital city. “Different habits and traditions here hinder the process of the women’s rights protection. For example a woman, who is subjected to domestic violence, her shyness and traditions do not allow her to consult a lawyer, an advocate or psychologist,” Mrs. Harutyunyan said.
Advocate Mariam Zadoyan, the Project Expert introduced information on women’s participation and introduced the international best practices. She spoke about legislative provisions of ensuring participation of women in legislative, executive and judicial powers, and local self government. She also spoke about the RA obligations under the International Treaties from the aspect of the protection of women’s rights and about the practical ways of application of the women’s rights.
AYLA legal adviser Tatevik Manukyan spoke about the property rights of the women. She also spoke about the rights of reproductive health, including the legal problems of sex-selective abortion.
During the seminar the participants raised the issues of concern through questions and answers, watched the videos on the problems in the sphere and participated in the group work.
“Influencing the Women’s Rights Agenda” project is implemented by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association NGO with financial support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of Armenia. Within the framework of the project the organization provides free legal advice on the women’s rights to citizens, in Yerevan and in 4 provinces of the RA, since 1 May, 2015.
Gevorg Tosunyan
