Recently, in the World Economic Forum, the annual rating chart of 2014 gender equality was complied, where Armenia ranked 103rd among 142 countries. What is the reason that our country is on the last place of the list? Isn’t any steps made in Armenia towards the establishment of gender equality? In response to these questions of Aravot.am, Executive Director of “Society Without Violence” NGO Anna Nikoghosyan said that if we compare Armenia’s indicator for this year to last year, we have recorded a regress. In 2013, we ranked 94th, in 2012 – 92nd, and in 2011 – 86th. This year, we rank the 103th. Anna Nikoghosyan has observed that we are down by a few lines, but in reality, there is no regress, but there is no progress, because our neighboring countries have gone forward. For example, Georgia records a progress in women’s participation in politics, health and education indicators, whereas we are in the same position, there has been no development, in other words, we are left back by itself. “But there is one factor that I want to single out and it is sex-selective abortions that are reflected in the gender inequality index. In this respect, Armenia ranks the 2nd in the world and the 1st in the region, then comes Azerbaijan. Note that due to selective abortions, 124 boys for every 100 girls are born in Gegharkunik Marz. If boys are born more than girls in one country, it is already a gender inequality, which moves Armenia back,” said Anna Nikoghosyan.
The NGO director said that when compiling such charts, both the involvement of women in education system, women’s health level, women’s involvement in politics and economy is considered. If women’s participation in education system is not low in Armenia, and both men and women almost equally get education, then in the future, as said by Nikoghosyan, there is a problem with women’s employment, in other words, the level of their participation in the economy is low. “Men’s employment is higher than women’s, as well as the positions, if we observe, there are more men in senior positions, and women have positions in lower levels, at best, in the performance level, women’s level of unemployment is high, Armenian women are not realized in the economy,” said Anna Nikoghosyan. Azerbaijan and Georgia, unlike Armenia, recorded a progress in the region.
Anna Nikoghosyan informed that Azerbaijan has passed a law on domestic violence, and they are already working on the amended version of the law, whereas Armenia does not have such a law, moreover, the bill was rejected. While, in Georgia, though there is a problem with domestic violence and discrimination, but as said by the NGO Director, this country leads a serous policy at the state level on establishment of gender equality and consider the sector primary, also the government is implementing various programs, passes laws to record progress in this sector, whereas in our country, in fact, almost nothing is being done at the state level.
Nelly BABAYAN
