🇦🇲🗣️ Breaking Barriers: Women’s Role in Strengthening Democratic Governance in Armenia

Participate & Promote Democracy

(EU Youth Participation Project)

(Published Articles below)

🇳🇱 In the framework of our "Participate & Promote Democracy" EU Youth Participation Project, the participant youths explored ways to break barriers and understand women’s role in strengthening democratic governance in Armenia.

Raising their voice in democracy, Armenian participants interviewed dierent policymakers.

Heriknaz Tigranyan emphasized the role of women in shaping more inclusive legislation and highlighted how female leaders have contributed to the qualitative growth of political influence.

She also reflected on both the progress achieved and the challenges that remain for women’s meaningful participation in a democratic political environment.

Lilit Galstyan expressed skepticism about real progress in women’s rights, stressing that parliamentary quotas do not guarantee quality and that female MPs often fail to protect other women’s interests, especially amid impunity for inappropriate behavior.

Artur Sakunts, prominent Armenian human rights defender and the President of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor (HCAV), underlined the importance of women’s participation in politics for promoting peace-oriented agendas and civil society, but pointed out the limited effectiveness of quotas and the continuing dominance of men in leadership, particularly in security structures.

Youths engaged in discussion with renowned policymaker Anna Grigoryan on the role of women in Armenian politics. They examined women’s contributions and the challenges they face, including family responsibilities, societal expectations and limited leadership opportunities, emphasizing the importance of empowering women to shape Armenia’s political future.

Mane Tandilyan shares that while the field remains doubly challenging for women due to stereotypes and slow societal change, persistence, education and mutual support are key. Tandilyan urges young women not to fear politics and emphasizes building on the legacy of initiatives like “Shamiram” in modern ways.

Armenian youths met also Shogher Matevosyan, highlighting that women’s presence in politics isn’t symbolic but transformative: real change begins when women claim their voice, stand together, turning persistence into impact.

Well-known Armenian politician Naira Zohrabyan discussed with participant youths the role of Armenian women in politics. She spoke about the laws she initiated as a woman politician, emphasizing her legislative contributions and the role of women in shaping political decisions.

Nina Karapetyants highlighted the vulnerability of women in Armenian society, noting the threats and stereotypes that hinder their careers, yet emphasized that women possess great potential in politics when they are professionals with clear goals.

Avetik Chalabyan, one of the founders of the legislative initiative «Hayaqve», explained that many women avoid entering Armenian politics due to the high level of toxicity and negative attitudes toward women in public affairs, which discourages their active participation.

Armenian Youth Explore Karine Davtian’s Insights on Women Rising to Power in Politics​.

📝 Published Articles

livejournal.com

aravot.am

Netherlands’ diary

my.mamul

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