Empowering women economically promotes gender equality

Declining mine production and environmental pollution have taken a heavy toll on Syunik, Armenia's southernmost region, which relies heavily on the mining industry. With many men seeing labour migration as the only way out, women are often left to bear the brunt of economic hardship.

It is estimated that in some areas of Syunik today, over 60% of households are headed by women. Unfortunately, many men do not return and stop sending money back.

Income-generating opportunities are scarce. Many women are unemployed and only few are involved in business activities. Furthermore, women hardly participate in public or political life. Out of 102 village mayors, only four are women. Democratic principles such as gender equality tend to be deemed of secondary importance.

Women's resource centres open up economic opportunities

In 2008, the OSCE Office in Yerevan decided to support three women's resource centres in Syunik, in the towns of Goris, Kapan and Meghri. The centres offer local women a space for dialogue and provide resources to help them start businesses.

Besides offering advice and training, they conduct market surveys, arrange contacts with taxation officials and small- and medium-sized enterprises, and provide a variety of low cost services such as legal advice, business consultancies or computer and English courses. They help women to draw up joint business plans and to identify niches in the local market, such as eco-tourism.

"There are many tourists, but simply no hotels or services," says Nvard Khachatryan, member of the steering committee of the centre in Meghri.

"We also need to look beyond Syunik and try to access markets in Yerevan or abroad," Khachatryan continues. "We plan to promote local produce, such as dried fruit or handicrafts, especially with the Armenian diaspora."

In October 2009, the three centres joined efforts and organized a trade fair in Goris, where women sold and marketed their goods, and networked with visitors from the private sector.

In pursuit of gender equality

The success of the resource centres is triggering changes that go beyond the economic sphere. "Providing equal access to economic opportunities is only one side of the coin," declares Sven Holdar, OSCE Democratization Officer in the Yerevan office.

Women benefiting from the centre are finding themselves empowered to challenge the gender stereotypes still prevalent in the region.

Jasmen Khachatryan, a member of the centre in Goris, who is planning an expansion of the taxi business she started, is a case in point. "I already employ two male drivers. This time I think it would be a good idea to hire a woman," she says with a confident smile.

Ruzanna Torozian, the president of the Goris centre, is contemplating entering local politics, thanks to encouragement she has received at the centre. "I thought for a very long time about standing for local elections and now I feel ready for it. I visited every house in Goris. People were surprised, you can imagine. But they listened. I really feel I made people think," she recounts.

Sergey Hayrapetyan, the Mayor of Meghri, recognizes the positive impact the centres are having on communal life. "In many ways, thanks to the dynamism in the women's resource centres, people have started to think differently about the role of women in our community," he says.

Building up capacities

The prospects opened up by the three local centres are encouraging. Nevertheless, high-level political support is crucial to ensuring that gender equality is realized. "Much has been achieved, but success also depends on continued national and local political support and more strategic replication of such activities throughout the OSCE area," Jamila Seftaoui, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, said upon returning from a visit to Yerevan and Syunik.

Today, the link between women's economic empowerment, good governance, peace and sustainable growth is well established. Armenia has adopted several international conventions and commitments - including OSCE Ministerial Council decisions - and a National Action Plan to ensure gender equality. The challenge remains to fully implement existing commitments.

The project in Syunik has shown, albeit on a micro-level, how women's economic empowerment is a very feasible strategy for triggering change.

The Office in Yerevan - backed by the OSCE Gender Section - will continue to support the women's groups in 2010. The main objective will be to consolidate leadership and management skills so that the centres achieve self-sustainability.

It appears that in Syunik, - to quote Virginia Woolf - "anything may happen when womanhood has ceased to be a protected occupation."