OSCE Office helps organize student essay contest on role of women in Armenia

YEREVAN, 8 April 2005 - The winners of an essay contest on the role of women in Armenia were announced today at an award ceremony in Yerevan. They were chosen from more than 500 students who took part in a nationwide competition.

The contest was organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the U.S. Peace Corps in Armenia and the Center for the Development of Civil Society.

The event marked the end of a gender activities month, which started on 8 March, International Women's Day, and ended on 7 April, celebrated in Armenia as the Beauty and Motherhood Day.

"The essay contest inspired hundreds of students to focus on women's rights and the role of women in Armenia's public and civic life," says Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office. "This is only one of several projects, developed by the OSCE, which aim to enhance the role of women in Armenia's public life."

The contest was administered by Peace Corps volunteers in nine regions of Armenia. Twenty seven regional as well as three national winners were chosen.

"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," said Blanka Hancilova, Democratization Officer with the OSCE Office in Yerevan. "In order to raise gender awareness and gender mainstreaming, our Office works with both men and women in the secondary and higher educational institutions, as well as in the governmental structures."