Participate For Change

Numerous worthy women were defeated in the elections. Defeats were primarily recorded in places where the electoral struggle was extremely tense: consolidated communities, regional towns and especially in contests of candidates for the community head positions. However, all these women are characterized and united by their ability not to lose heart and not to back out of their goals…

Irina Yolyan,  

“Everything lies ahead…”

After the elections to self-governance bodies held in Goris on September 18, the community of Goris unites 12 residential areas. Instead of the former 62 councilors a 15-member group was formed. Only one of the 26 candidates nominated for councilor positions was a woman – Irina Yolyan, a journalist and a member of the Fund Resource Center for Development of Goris Women.

“I am aiming at being useful to my community and at introducing qualitative changes in the activities of councilors. I want to set an example and demonstrate that a councilor is a person willing to heed citizens’ complaints and problems and consistent in seeking solutions to them,” this was the message with which Irina Yolyan joined the electoral campaign, however, she was defeated in the elections.

“I am receiving hundreds of calls and messages. Yesterday, at a very late hour I learned that I had not garnered the necessary number of votes. Votes garnered in the town of Goris were sufficient, the problem was with village communities. Moreover, I know that in the villages a clear-cut directive had been given to work in support of specific persons and since in our part of the world non-performance of a directive amounts for many to committing suicide, I approach the situation with understanding. But the votes I garnered in Goris allow me to hope that much has changed in the consciousness of the people…As regards my viewpoint that women have no chance in consolidating urban communities, it is truly so. These elections have once again demonstrated that women have almost zero opportunities since those levers, guiding, controlling states that are created are unacceptable and impossible for women. Especially, if you are principled, have your own opinion and are against the mainstream, everything will be done so that you do not become an insider. I should be especially grateful to those that had faith in me, to the people, who were with me, by my side. Everything lies ahead…,” wrote Irina in her Facebook page after the elections.  

Srbuhi Grigoryan,

“The slogan Towards Changes remains in force.”  

Srbuhi Grigoryan, a candidate for Sisian’s mayor position, participated in the elections with the slogan Towards Changes. Srbuhi Grigoryan, a journalist, a councilor, executive director of the Sisian Women’s Resource Center, is the head of the local office of the Bright Armenia Party and was nominated a community head candidate for the first time. In response to her rivals, who would say that she was smart, but not strong, she would say, “What do you mean by strong? I do not go to a box ring to show muscle strength there. The strength of any community head is their intellectual capacities and diplomatic skills, and, in this sense, I undoubtedly can compete…”  

After the elections, she informed her compatriots, who had made donations to collect the sum necessary for her electoral deposit, that she was defeated, but that her team would keep its promise to organize, in the amount equivalent to that sum, training courses for women who were making their first steps in politics. “ We will do that on a voluntary basis, I will assume the burden of the necessary expenses. Next year, in Sisian, we are going to have elections to self-governance bodies again, in connection with community consolidation. Our type does not back down. We will be continuing to take steps targeting changes in the country. We will be continuing because we love our country more than ourselves. The slogan Towards Changes remains in force…,” she announced.