Statement by Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN, at the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women: General Debate

15 մարտի, 2018

Mr. Chairperson,

At the outset I congratulate you and other members of the Bureau on your election and express our full support to your important work.

Armenia has aligned itself with the statement delivered by the delegation of the European Union. In my national capacity I would like to focus on specific policies of my Government related to the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women.

Armenia welcomes the priority theme of the current session, which is particularly pertinent in the framework of the implementation of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda.

Rural women and girls traditionally play a vital role in supporting and implementing sustainable development. Women are powerful engines of growth in the rural economy, contributing also to poverty reduction, food security, and community health. The empowerment of rural women and girls and the realization of their human rights and gender equality are essential in promoting Sustainable Development, particularly SDG1, SDG5 and SDG8.
Like many others, we have also come forward to showcase our record on empowerment of women in rural areas. In the margins of the present session Armenia jointly with the Armenian Relief Society (NGO) organized a side event entitled “Rural Women and Girls: Initiating Economic and Social Development”. The event aimed at demonstrating specific activities and projects for the promotion of social and economic empowerment of rural women through raising awareness, identifying challenges and exploring new economic and social opportunities reinforced with financial assistance. Furthermore, with the delegations of Cyprus, Belgium, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan we co-organized a side event entitled “Empowering women and girls through access to health”. Armenia has also co-partnered the voluntary presentation on the CSW62 Review theme by Bulgaria. We commend and thank our partners for these joint actions.
The Government of Armenia remains consistent with elaborating and implementing executive and legislative reforms, as well as renewing national action plans related to the advancement of women. Amongst the latest examples are the recent amendments to the Electoral Code of Armenia, reinforcing measures to promote the participation of women in decision-making positions, including the increased threshold for women representation in the political parties lists. Following the parliamentary elections in 2017, the representation of women in the National Assembly increased to nearly 20%.

Countering domestic violence has also received resolute action during the last year. In 2017 Armenia enacted the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence, Protection of the Victims of Domestic Violence and Restoring of Solidarity within Families. The drafting process has been subject to extensive public debates and consultations, including broad segment of civil society and in particular women’s organizations, which in itself served the purpose of raising awareness and public rejection of the phenomenon of domestic violence. The law aims at combating domestic violence by introducing criminal and administrative liability against those found guilty of the defined crime. This year Armenia signed the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, thus becoming the 45th member state of the Council of Europe to become party to the Convention. The decision to join the Convention was also subject to extensive debates and discussions with civil society representatives.

Armenia has been consistently advocating the protection of the rights of women living in conflict areas. International human rights institutions including UN special procedures and agencies should have unimpeded access to populations, including women living in conflict areas.

Armenia attaches great importance to the regional cohesion in elaboration of Action Plans for the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 1325, aimed at strengthening peace, security and human rights. In 2017 an inter-ministerial working group has been set up in Armenia to elaborate a national Action Plan on the implementation of UNSC Resolution1325. Armenia is convinced that the engagement of women in a peace process, particularly those living in conflict areas, is a strong and effective confidence building measure, reinforcing reconciliation efforts. Women peace activists should be supported and promoted as agents of peaceful change and peace building in their societies. Ill-treatment of such activists is deplorable and should be countered.

Finally, Armenia is committed to advancing women’s representation and leadership across the entire United Nations system. Armenia is a member of the UN Group of Friends for Gender parity.

Thank you.

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