Isabella Abgaryan “Yerevan is particularly uncomfortable for mothers with children”

WomenNet.am held an interview with Isabella Abgaryan, occupying 8th place in the “My Step” bloc’s pre-electoral list for Yerevan Council of Elderly elections. She is known as a blogger, public figure. She has actively participated in a number of Yerevan-related issues: Moscow Cinema Open-air Hall, Mashtots Park, Closed Market, etc. She says she dreams to create “mother and child” corners in parks, where mothers will be able to change the baby’s clothes, take care of the hygiene needs and breastfeed the baby.

She was born in 1976 in Yerevan. In 1998 she graduated from Yerevan State University, Romance and Germanic Philology Department, receiving a French interpreter and pedagogue qualification. She has worked as an interpreter at the International Relations Department at Yerevan State University and as a journalist at the Public Television of Armenia in 2008. She was awarded with the Russian Gold Writer Award of the Russian Writers’ Union in 2008. From 2013 up to present she is the founder president of “We and our country for democracy development” NGO. 2018 From July, UPF Armenie is the Secretary General of the International Federation of Non-Profit Organizations of Armenia.

– There is an opinion that in the election campaign, the woman has to make twice the effort of the man and to be three times more prepared to succeed in the competition. As a candidate for a council member, during the campaign have you noticed such a public demand for a woman?

–  I have noticed positive changes. Much more importance is given to female candidates by the population. People are approaching, with serious questions. But, yes, there is still a difference in attitude in our society. Before you prove your words, more attention is drawn to the outside. It is a pity that most women are more skeptical and write down more harsh, sometimes even obscene comments on women in politics than for men. It’s really hard to position ourselves, but when we succeed, we get more attention. It’s much easier for me to capture the voter who has been following social networking activities for years, and trying to convey strangers to the same level of information, approaches, and solutions.

– What are you planning to change in the model of Yerevan? What innovations do you offer to residents of the capital?

–  In the Yerevan government system, both structural and legislative changes are needed, and decisions on them will be made as a result of team discussions. For example, the process of building permits and the legalization should be revised. Thus, the consent of the neighbors to legalize the Armenian mentality is incorrect. If the Europeans do not give their consent to the issue until they find a solution, it is urgent because we do not want to spoil our relationship with our neighbors, “Are we a neighbor, how can I not sign?” Additionally, the first point of our program mentions the most important principle we are going to introduce to the public opinion through referendums rather than to surprise with decisions as it was before.

– What problems do the women and children of Yerevan have? How do you illustrate the problem of rebuilding kindergartens, food supply and primary health care?

– Yerevan is particularly uncomfortable for mothers with infants. There are few gardens and parks, and it is often impossible to get there by carriage. Therefore, we have the goal of updating the transport fleet to focus on this issue, so that mothers can take a bus with a baby carriage.

Full text in Armenian