InternationalAmerican diplomats take to the streets of Yerevan
Walkathon raises awareness of domestic violence
Published: Saturday December 06, 2008
U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, second from right, in Yerevan's Republic Square on Nov. 30, 2008, leads a demonstration against domestic violence. At her right is Lala Ghazarian, head of the Department of the Family, Children and Women in Armenia's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Photolure
Yerevan - U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch led a group of some 40 people on a 5 km walkathon through downtown Yerevan to highlight the problem of violence against women in the country on Sunday, November 30. "Violence against women, against children is an issue everywhere in the world. It's an issue here in Armenia as well. I think it's important, especially as a female ambassador to try and help raise awareness of this issue," she told the Armenian Reporter. The event was organized with the support of the U.S. Embassy, American Councils, IREX, and the American University of Armenia as part of a worldwide "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence" between November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day.
Elvira Dana, country director of American Councils, explained that the initiative came from the alumni of U.S.-sponsored programs. "We had very active girls who were interested in showing that they were powerful, which turned into an idea for a walk or a run," she said. In connection with the 16 days of activism, Ms. Dana said, "It was a natural fit to have these very active young women highlight a topic in Armenia, which people are hesitant or embarrassed to speak about."
While there were some young alumni taking part in the walkathon, most of the participants weren't even Armenian. They were representatives of local USAID-sponsored NGOs and members of America's diplomatic corps in Armenia. Emma Davtian, a young university student emphasized the importance of this protest. "Most times it has to do with how we've been raised. We have been taught to be docile, to accept the circumstances of our existence. It's not always easy to speak out about your rights, not only as a woman, but as a citizen," she said.
Also taking part in the walk was Lala Ghazarian, the department head of the Family, Children and Women's Department within the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. In an interview with the Armenian Reporter, Ms. Ghazarian said that a working group, which included specialists from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Police Department, and civil society has prepared draft legislation to have domestic violence included in the criminal code. At present there are no specific legal provisions for domestic violence in Armenia. Ms. Ghazarian is hopeful that they will be able to submit the legislation to the National Assembly this coming spring. "We have to find a way to ‘Armenianize' this law and ensure that it works," she said referring to the strong sense of family in Armenia's culture, which can act as an impediment to women's rights.
According to Ms. Ghazarian, another working group has drafted legislation on equal rights and equal opportunities, something which is not enshrined in Armenian law. "Simply acknowledging that these issues exist in our society is a step forward," Ms. Ghazarian said, adding that her ministry has also prepared a national action plan on child neglect and child abuse, which was submitted to the government for further study and recommendations.
Susanna Vardanyan, president of the Women's Rights Center, one of the few local NGOs taking part in the walkathon said that the poor turnout was not surprising. "There is still such a taboo in Armenian society about these issues. I have been called a national traitor for simply talking about domestic violence," Ms. Vardanyan said while walking with a purple balloon in her hand along Abovyan Street, where curious passersby were looking at the group of people walking with white T-shirts and gold and purple balloons. The Women's Rights Center has been operating since 1997. The main thrust of their focus is domestic violence, including sexual violence and women's reproductive health. "Before 1997, we were called the Women's Center and we worked primarily in the field of humanitarian care. The needs were different then. After 1997, when we became the Women's Rights Center, people would ask, ‘Are women's rights not protected?' They looked at us with disdain. But we struggle on," she said with a smile.
The walkathon concluded at the American University of Armenia where a reception was held and where participants got a chance to meet Ambassador Yovanovitch who acknowledged that the Armenian government seems to moving in a more proactive direction, which inspires hope that domestic violence is now, at least on the agenda. "The state and a number of civil society organizations are taking this issue on," she said.
The ambassador said that she realizes that there is a strong culture of a strong family in Armenia, which she sees as a very positive thing, however, "that mitigates against women speaking out or their neighbors speaking out and so clearly there are cultural aspects as well. But what I would say is that violence against women is also violence against family; you can't have a healthy family when there is violence."
