What will the “Women’s Agenda” look like?

The quota system functions utmost effectively in the societies where women run active societal movements. What issues will the women organizations pose to the political parties allotted to the National Assembly and what expectations do they have with the women involved in the party-lists? In other words, what is the scope of the problems that formed the so-called “Women’s Agenda”.

Discussions with representatives of several women’s organizations revealed that despite the absence of a joint list of questions and suggestions to be posed to the future parliamentarians the scope of topics is very common for all the organizations. The series of questions will be voiced upon the start of the pre-election campaign. Many of the NGOs intend to carefully study the pre-election programs and identify the scope of women-related questions in those programs. Meantime, it is obvious that the scopes of identified issues are often interlinked with the activities of the NGO sector.

“Women’s Resource Center” NGO Director Lara AHARONYAN noted, “We have highlighted two major issues: firstly, did the party include women’s and in particular the gender-based violence issues into its programs? We identified many gaps in the field starting from legal regulatory to shelter issues. This is not the case the NGO should deal with; it requires a State approach.

The second major question is related to the economic development opportunities for women. Fore, our organization will arrange meetings with various political parties on twice a week bases to get introduced to their political programs and for us to address our concerns to them”.

Lilit ASATRYAN, President of “Young Women’s Association of Armenia” highlighted their experience in cooperation with the National Assembly members and women parliamentarians in particular. “They presented their experience to young women and gave an opportunity to our stakeholders to upraise their concerns. In the pre-election stage we will pay a special attention to the fact, that the political parties involved in the campaign emphasize the importance of women’s role in life, in the state and in the different societal sectors. The other important aspects are the unemployment and healthcare issues in general and women in specific”.

Doustrik MKHITARYAN, Coordinator of the Women Leaders Forum mentioned that in May 2011 in the frameworks of the “Women in Politics” conference supported by USAID and National Democratic Institute they developed Women’s Issues Platform. The latter will be presented to the political parties allotted for the parliament.

“The mentioned Platform has four priorities: 1) women’s political participation, 2) women’s participation in economic development, 3) domestic and gender-based violence elimination, and 4) women’s healthcare. Further, the Forum plans to establish regional coordinating councils, involve active women who would support women candidates and assist them organize appropriate and civilized elections,” Mrs. Mkhitaryan added.

Women’s Republican Council Head Aida TOPUZYAN identified and enumerated three mainstream topics to be posed during the campaigns: “Firstly, what steps will be undertaken to solve the issue of elderlies, the retired and unemployed women in specific, their healthcare and insurance aspects. The elderlies are the most vulnerable layer, and no formal mechanism for them has been formed since now. Secondly, the necessity of forming a national mechanism for gender issues is prevailing. And finally, there is an oppressing prerequisite for developing a family support concept”.

As a result of discussions with Public Council’s Gender and Population Commission members a wide range of questions was identified. Yelena VARDANYAN, the Gender and Population Commission Chairperson and Gyumri branch Head of “Association of Women with University Education” believes, that “Women’s Agenda” will encompass more social issues for the upcoming elections compared with the ones in 2007. This phenomenon is due to significantly increased level of poverty in Armenia caused by economic crisis.

“The first priority is the social protection; the second one is the migration prevention and rapid actions should be taken to influence the Armenian citizens for designing their future in their own country. And thirdly, the guarantee for social stability is through fostered family role, which should be well-thought and designed”. This is the “Women’s Agenda” according to Yelena Vardanyan.

The article was merely ready for publishing when we learnt that the Civil Society Partnership Network (CSPN) encompassing OXFAM partner 27 NGOs intends to address the parties with an appeal for not oblige the women candidates withdraw their mandate afterwards. The society wants to see the elected women in the National Parliament, since they just should be there …

By Lilit Kochinyan, Ninel Hovhannisyan