Questions to MPs

We mealy forgot the meaning of the word parliamentarian. The grassroots of the Armenian word is apostle or messenger. To overlap the omission, we askedYerevanand province based women electors address their questions and suggestions to women parliamentarians.

Naira M., 26 years old: “I wish the upcoming parliament involves more women so they raise the women rights and domestic violence issues more recurrently. I believe a punitive mechanism for domestic violence should be established. I also suggest eliminating those who ever committed domestic violence from the parliament.”

Ophelia I., 35 year old: “I wish women parliamentarians get in touch with village based women more frequently and get to know the problems from their practical sides. I do not want them sit in Yerevan only and make decisions from distance”.

Zoya A. 54 years old: “I wish the mammography examination for women at risk was free of charge. The current prices are just frightening”.

Anahit M., 55 years old: “Selective abortions should be stopped and men stipulating their wives for this act should be punished. I got to know many cases, when the wives were forced for abortion, since they already had two daughters”.

Arusyak H., 56 years old: “Discrimination against women and commonly age-limitations in the workplaces is a frequent phenomenon”.

Shoghineh S., 19 years old: “I want to make sure the female parliamentarians are elected and not just women who act like men and play men’s rules”.

Irina S., 29 years old: “I wish women parliamentarians discuss the child indexation benefits. The amount for child benefit for families with comparatively higher income is not crucial to support the family budget. Thus, to my belief, the child benefit amount for families with higher income should be decreased and instead increase the amount for families with lower income. Another important factor is compensation payment to disabled children and those adopted from orphanages”.

Anzhela R., 57 years old: “Many of us still remember the protest actions by pregnant women against the law on the maternity leave payments. With this action, the role of women in the parliament was once again highlighted and moreover women should be involved in the Social Committees to avoid the adoption of such erratic laws”.

Susanna S., 31 years old: “The female parliamentarian should exhibit her entire intelligence and vigor to prevent entrance of religious sects and schisms into the society. In particular I mean the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” who even have adherent members/teacher in the schools who freely preach our children. This is unacceptable and measures should be taken rapidly. Secondly, increase of budgets for schools’ and kindergartens’ renovations is a must and should be discussed in these instances”.

Nora A., 67 years old: “One can meet expired products in the stores and supermarkets very frequently. These are mainly dairy or canned products. One day, my friends and I decided to form a “club of experts” and discover the old and expired products in the stores. This way the retired people like us could bring benefit to our country. If only our initiative could be legitimated. The ball is in your court, dear parliamentarian ladies”.

Armenouhi S., village Darbas: “When will the livelihoods of the village women be improved? When will the peasant be able to sell the harvest on time? I am glad that women are active in politics since only they can comprehend the real burden on women’s shoulder”.

Vera G., village Oshakan: “I do sympathize women parliamentarians and I believe their involvement into the parliament will resolve many social issues. As per the statistics, the villages run by women leaders have less unresolved issues”.

Alvard Sh., village Ttujur: “I wish much success to women parliamentarians, much improvements and good deeds for our population. The sole hope for the peasant is the land cultivation, but the weather conditions are unsatisfying and people often starve”.

Haykanoush E., village Aknashen: “I have a greenhouse and throughout the whole year we work very hard in cultivating the vegetables. During the harvest season we face a dilemma – low-cost vegetables are being imported to the market and our product remains unsold. We can not even bring the invested money back, so if the situation persists during 1-2 years, we will be forced to close the greenhouse. I wish there is a control system and methods to support the small businesses to increase profitability”.

By Mariam Mughdusyan,

Karine Amirkhanyan,

Лилит Кочинян