OXFAM Armenia in partnership with “Caucasus” Social Research Center carried out a research project aiming to study and reveal the gender-sensitive peculiarities of the 2012 RoA National Assembly elections. The main findings of the research project have been summarized into the “Participation for Change” publication.
On December 21st the presentation of the “Participation for Change” book and a roundtable discussion of the research findings were held. Representatives of political parties, NGOs, research and scientific centers and mass media participated at the event.
Research revealed data which came to prove that the increase of number of women MPs in the National Assembly would lead to a higher level of consideration and attention towards issues relating to women, children and vulnerable layers of population, social and healthcare problems they encounter, as well as to the humanization of politics and decision-making processes.
The National Assembly elections demonstrated that defining at least a 20% gender quota in the RoA Electoral Code did not ensure the desired indicators. Women MPs constituted only the 10.7% of the overall number of MPs in the 5th convocation of the RoA National Assembly. Experts claim that the solution to this problem lies in setting the minimal threshold of gender quota as 30% in the Electoral Code and fixing the application of gender rotation principle in the proportional electoral lists. The latter will allow women who removed their names from the list or rejected their mandates be replaced by women who were the next candidates in the list.
There are several notable achievements in the gender policy. In particular, the RoA Government approved the Gender Policy Concept Paper and the Action Plan, as well as there has been a positive shift in the public opinion regarding women’s political participation. Nevertheless, the research team drew the conclusion that the political route adopted by the Armenian Government is still insufficiently gender sensitive. The situation can be improved if the Law on Equal rights and opportunities is adopted. This priority is included in the action plan of Eastern Partnership Armenia Platform and is in the interest of democratization of political life.
