The next stop of the campaign “Prominent Armenian Women for Women Empowerment” was Vanadzor. Stepan Zoryan House-Museum hosted MPs from the Parliament of the First Republic of Armenia Varvara-Varya Sahakyan, Katarine Zalyan-Manukyan, Perchuhi Partizpanyan-Barseghyan and writer, publicist, famous public figures Zabel Yesayan and Shushanik Kurginyan.
The campaign “Prominent Armenian Women for Women Empowerment” aims to promote gender equality, overcome discriminatory social norms and harmful practices, as well as prevent gender-biased sex selection in Armenia.
“As we know, in many countries of the world, including in Armenia, there is a serious problem when pregnancy is aborted because of the discriminatory selection based on the gender-biased sex selection and preference for boys.
As a result of the interventions made over the years, in 2021 sex ratios at birth in Armenia was estimated at 108.8 boys to 100 girls (the natural level is 102-106 boys to 100 girls), which is a progress compared to early 2000 level (120 boys to 100 girls),” said Gayane Abovyan, Project Officer, OxYGen, in her opening speech, adding that the campaign was carried out as part of diverse actions pointed to resolving and preventing the problem. said Gayane Abovyan, Project Officer, OxYGen, in her opening speech, adding that the campaign was carried out as part of diverse actions addressed at resolving and preventing the problem. Representatives of Lori Regional Administration, Vanadzor Municipality also attended the meeting and gave welcome speeches.
The event was attended by representatives of city academia, medical institutions, schools, other locals, and guests from Yerevan, who had an opportunity to watch the performance “100 Years Later” featuring the heroes – 5 prominent women of the 20th century, met 100 years later and were talking about historical events, the role of women, protection of women’s rights, appreciation and equal opportunities of women over the course of history.
The famous letter written by Zabel Yesayan to her daughter Sofi was the keynote passage of the performance conveying and important message: “․․․first of all we must hate mediocracy. To become a well-known person, to have personal merits, and to serve a higher purpose – to these you should aspire. The most miserable person is the one who lives a mediocre and useless life, regretting that s/he has missed his true calling,”, exhorts Zabel.
“This was an emotional, educational and lovely event,” shared her impressions Gayane Kalantaryan, the only female member of Vanadzor Community Council. Merited artist of Armenia, national painter Paravon Mirzoyan highlighted the event mentioning that most of the women he came to know for the first time.
The performance was followed by an active discussion among participants exchanging their opinions on the topics of women empowerment and promotion, equal opportunities for women and men, gender-biased selection of child’s sex.
The performance based on the play composed by Samvel Khalatyan (incidentally from Vanadzor too), staged by Nairyan Vocal Ensemble of Mughdusyan Art Center, has been hosted in Kotayk, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Aragatsotn marzes at the end of last year. Forthcoming performances are planned in Masis, Charentsavan, Etchmiadzin and Ijevan cities.
The campaign is organized within the framework of the “Addressing Gender-Biased Sex Selection and Related Harmful Practices in the South Caucasus: Support for Regional, National and South–South Interventions” implemented by the United Nations Population Fund in cooperation with the OxYGen Foundation. The Project is funded by the European Union and the United Nations Population Fund.
