Gender conference opens in Yerevan

YEREVAN, 8 May 2001 - Young teachers, researchers and students will discuss gender issues and gender education in Armenia at a two-day conference on "Gender Culture in Modern Armenian Society: traditions and innovations" that opened in Yerevan yesterday, 7 May 2001.

The event is organized by the Association of Women with University Education NGO (Centre for Gender Studies) in co-operation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office in Yerevan supported by the Canadian International Development Agency. The conference is part of the OSCE project on improving women's participation in the political, economic and public life in Armenia.

Ms. Jemma Hasratyan, Chairwoman of the Association of Women with University Education, a leading NGO in the field, pointed out that the conference - for the first time - brings together young teachers and students to make over 30 presentations which would provide a basis for the drafting of a textbook on gender issues in Armenia.

Ms. Cerasela Nicolas, Democratization Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan, stressed the importance of gender education, especially among the younger generation. "The OSCE as an Organization places high priority on gender equality and gender awareness among the participating States," she said.

Ms. Nicolas also expressed hope that the evident interest in gender studies among the youth would contribute to raising women's participation in political, economic and social life of Armenia, which is an objective of the project the OSCE Office is implementing.

At present, the OSCE is working to: raise public awareness of the lack of adequate participation of women in political, economic and public life in Armenia through roundtables and seminars; conduct information campaigns to change the existing attitudes and stereotypes related to the participation of women in political and social life; and serve as a mediator between local NGOs and assist them co-operating with each other and make their efforts more effective.

Representatives of the Ministry of Education and the Rector of "Interlingua" Linguistic University also participated and expressed their appreciation with the present event and participation of youth, and strongly proposed the creation of the Chair on Gender Studies in state higher education institutions.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan was established in February 2000 to promote the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments as well as the co-operation of the Republic of Armenia within the OSCE framework, in all OSCE dimensions, including the human, political, economic and environmental aspects of security and stability.

For further information, please contact Ms. Gohar Avagyan, Information Officer, OSCE Office in Yerevan, tel.: 374 1 54 10 62, 374 1 54 58 45; e-mail: osce@osce.am