On 19 January 2012, the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs as well as the Standing Committee on European Integration of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, in collaboration with the EU Advisory Group, organized a parliamentary hearing on the Draft Law on “Ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men.”
Source - parliament.am
The parliamentary hearing was opened by Mr. Samvel Nikoyan, President of the National Assembly and other high representatives of different international organizations and delegations, as well as local officials, The goal of this Draft Law is to ensure gender equality in all the spheres of social life, legal protection of men and women from gender discrimination, as well as support to civil society development in the important field. Samvel Nikoyan, in his speech expressed hope that the hearings are aimed at strengthening democracy and human rights in Armenia and the discussions will contribute to the improvement of the bill.
The Draft Law is a regulation directed to increase gender awareness and ensure that men and women enjoy the same fundamental rights. The issues addressed by the Draft Law are related to ensuring balanced participation in political and economic spheres, implementation of the state gender policy, establishment and effective functioning of the national mechanism controlling law enforcement, rise of the social and economic status of housework, combining professional and family duties and prevention of violence and sexual harassment. Mr. Samvel Nikoyan highlighted that the role and importance of NGOs in this process is much too much important, as the civil society has stubbornly spread the idea of gender equality and its acceptability for distinct layers of the society.
Ambassador Traian Hristea, the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia told that during her one and a half month stay in Armenia she had evaluated women’s high intellectual capacity and wondered why we should not use this great potential. The two parliamentary committees will discuss the proposals and views suggested during the hearing, making further amendments in the document.
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