Women’s Role in the Emerging Social Movement in Armenia

A Decrease font size. A Reset font size. A Increase font size.

Power Point presentation by Khatoune Temisjian Bedrossian PhD
At the Public Roundtable Discussion: Policy Directions in Post Election Armenia, Montreal, 20 June 2008

"History of 19th and 20th centuries was very illuminating: There is no future for a society without justice, without equality, without brotherhood, in short, without solidarity”

Women’s Role in the Emerging Social Movement in Armenia

Khatoune Temisjian Bedrossian, Ph.D.

(A Powerpoint Presentation)
Montreal, June 20, 2008

Plan

• The context in Armenia

• Participation of women in politics

• Women’s role in the emerging social movement

• Definition of a social movement

• Conclusion

The context in Armenia

• High level of poverty

• High income inequality and unemployment

• Various advocacy groups

– More than 3500 NGOS

– Women, workers, ecological, health, education

– Significant proportion of women are active in those advocacy groups

• These NGOs can be part of a social movement

Participation of women in politics

• 60% of people with high education

• Excluded from decision-making process in Post Soviet Armenia

• Legislative (National Assembly of Armenia): 3.1%

• Executive

• Ministers: 5.55%

• 51,8% of the population

• Deputy ministers: 5.55%

• Female officers ministries: 44.4%

• Female officers in the presidency: 46.3%

• Female bureaucrats: 53.9%

Participation of women in politics

Judiciary

• Constitutional court: 0%

• Judges: 20%

• Lawyers: 36%

• Court clerks: 24%

• Other : 8%

• Justice ministry officers: 46%

Regional elections: 2% of women elected

Women’s role in the emerging social movement in Armenia (I)

• No study about the participation of women in the gatherings or movements

• During gatherings, members of opposition included 50 – 60% of women

• Hundreds of women have been taken to police station because of their participation

• Some women who, during elections, were performing roles on behalf of the opposition, were subject to violence

Women’s role in the emerging social movement in Armenia (II)

• Many women are on hunger strike, demanding freedom for political prisoners

• Women have formed an organization in defense of political prisoners. This organization includes also wives of political prisoners

Definition of a social movement

3 principles to identify a social movement (A. Touraine):

– Principle of identity: Who claims the movement?

– Principle of opposition: Against whom is it opposed?

– Principle of globality: What are the values?

Conclusion

“History of 19th and 20th centuries was very illuminating: There is no future for a society without justice, without equality, without brotherhood, in short, without solidarity” Ricardo Petrella (Emeritus Professor of Social Sciences, Belgium)