Seminar focuses on gender issues in Armenian politics

YEREVAN, 12 February 2002 - Gender issues in Armenian politics was the subject of a two-day seminar held in Yerevan on 11 and 12 February. Local government representatives from throughout the country discussed ways of integrating women into the political life of Armenia and improving co-operation between civil society and political bodies.

In his opening remarks Mr. Kamo Areyan, the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, warmly welcomed the event as, in his view, "equal participation of women in politics would ensure representative democracy in the country and would provide the basis for an open and democratic state".

During the first day, participants discussed topics related to gender issues in societies in transition, including basic gender and civil society theories, methods of integrating women into political and economic life. The programme of the second day focused on co-operation between civil society and political bodies, and in particular the interaction of civil society with local government.

The event was organized by the Association of Women with University Education, the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency. Among the speakers were leading Armenian specialists on gender and civil society, members of the Parliament and ministry officials.

The seminar is part of an OSCE project aimed at improving women's participation in the political, economic and public life of Armenia. The goal of the project is to raise public awareness of the lack of adequate participation of women through roundtables and seminars; to change existing attitudes and stereotypes related to the participation of women in political and social life; and to serve as a mediator between local NGOs and assist them in making their efforts more effective.

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.