ARMENIA

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Republica ~; denumire nationala: Haikakan Hanrapetoutioun; suprafata: 29 800 km2; capitala: Erevan; orase
importante: Ghiumri (fost Leninakan), Karaklis (fost Kirovakan); caracteristici geografice: preponderent muntoasa
(culmi muntoase apartinand Caucazului Mic), impadurita; seful statului: Robert Kocharian, din 1998; primministru: Amen Sarkisian, din 1999; regim politic: nationalist autoritar; moneda: dram (a inlocuit, in 1993, rubla
ruseasca); PNB/loc.: ($SUA) 2 180 (estimare 1998); exporturi: utilaje si produse destinate prelucrarii metalelor;
produse chimice si petroliere. Principala piata de desfacere: Comunitatea Statelor Independente, cu 36,3%
(1998); populatie: 3 525 000 loc. (estimare 1999); limba: armeana; religie: crestini monofiziti; speranta de viata:
67 (barbati), 74 (femei) (1995-2000)

Persecution And Threats Towards Womens Rights Defenders And Threat

To Freedom Of Association And Expression In Armenia
26.08.2013
Following the adoption of the law number 57 on "Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Men and Women" by the
Armenian Parliament in May 2013, a heated debate started around the concept of "gender" and "equality".
Extremist groups started disseminating misinformation on social networks sites, targeting women's non-governmental
organizations and women's rights defenders in Armenia. In order to spread hate and fear in society, these groups are
manipulating the wording of the law and associating "gender equality" with homosexuality propaganda and pedophilia.
Women's rights defenders are called "traitors of the nation", "destroyers of families" and a "threat to Armenian values"
and promoters of sexual abuse towards children and minors.
Almost anyone daring to speak about "gender" issues or women's rights is being mocked and ridiculed online and
broadcast media. Their photos are being circulated so people will identify them and attack them. Some of our members
who have been targeted are afraid for their lives and security and taking extreme measures to stay safe.
In the face of this hysteria, Parliament members who adopted almost unanimously the law on gender equality is
remaining silent and no concrete steps are taken by the government to protect and support the women's rights
defenders and those working on gender equality.
Following these violent movements, on several sites, there have been concrete threats and calls to violence towards our
organization (WRCA), such as " blow up the Women's Resource Center, and Burn the women's human rights defenders
for raising gender issues and challenging gender stereotypes in society". Our organization's chairperson presented
complaints to the Republic of Armenia Police and evidences of such threats of terrorism against the Center, but no
specific actions have been taken so far.
Some members of Parliament, like opposition party Prosperous Armenia, Deputy Ms Naira Zohrabyan (European
Integration Committee Chair) influenced by the reaction of a group of extremists immediately took a defensive position
and suggested changing the law on gender equality. Another member of parliament from the ruling party, Mr
Babukhanyan, presented an official complaint against the Women's Resource Center and its defenders to the RA
Prosecutor's General's office to investigate the organization's activities, accusing its members of promoting sexual
deviation and homosexuality among under-aged girls. Although all these allegations are not founded, it is creating black

PR to the organization, increasing hate towards them in society and threatening their freedom of assembly. This is not
the first time that the Women's Resource Center has been targeted by the Deputy Babukhanyan. On several occasions,
during parliamentary hearings, Mr Babukhanyan, stated publicly "that organizations like the Women's Resource Center
are destroying Armenian Families by working on domestic violence issues and they need to be shut down." In 2012, in
one of the online magazines he owns, an article was published stating the same message about the organization.
Following which, the Women's Resource Center took this magazine to court for defamation and won the case. He tried
to review the case on different levels but the decision of the court remained the same and now his magazine needs to
publish an official apology for spreading misinformation about our work. We believe that these attacks are direct
consequence of that court case. His journalists continue harassing us during public actions and circulating
misinformation about our work.
Our concern is that these extremist movements who are very pro-Russian (mainly publishing articles in Russian
language and providing evidences from Russian sources) are also part of the present geopolitical situation in Armenia.
Our concern is that these actions are part of the struggle between the Association agreement with the EU on one side
and the unity with Russia on the other.
WRCA appeals to you to pressure our government to take concrete steps to defend the rights of women's rights
defenders in Armenia and initiate actions to stop the hate war and persecution of women's organizations working on
gender equality and violence against women. We urge you as well to raise the issue among our governmental officials
to ensure the safety of the women's rights defenders and their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
The Women's Resource Center is a grassroots organization working in Armenia since 2003 on empowering women.
Our main mission is to counter gender discrimination in Armenia and provide psychological and legal support to
survivors of gender-based violence and sexual abuse. The Center has been also lobbying for amendments to the
criminal law regarding sexual violence and more specifically toughening the sexual abuse articles against minors, which
is very lenient in the law.