OSCE Office launches essay competition for Armenian students on gender issues

YEREVAN, 7 March 2006 - The role of women in decision-making will be the theme of a student essay competition that will be launched tomorrow by the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Organized in co-operation with the Centre for the Development of Civil Society, the event inaugurates a gender activities month, linked to 8 March, International Women's Day, and will end on 7 April, celebrated in Armenia as Beauty and Motherhood Day.

"The essay contest will inspire hundreds of students, teachers and parents and help focus on women's rights and the role of women in Armenia's public and civic life," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office.

"This project is one of the few country-wide initiatives that aims to promote gender education and awareness through outreach to young Armenians, especially in the regions of the country."

As in the previous contests, this year's event will be organized in nine regions of Armenia. The award committee will select 27 regional winners and three national winners, who will receive prizes at a ceremony to be held in Yerevan on 10 April.

Earlier this year, the OSCE Office initiated an International Co-ordination Group on Gender Issues, an informal forum of the main international actors in the gender field in Armenia, to enhance the exchange of information and co-ordination of gender-related initiatives.