Linked to our presentation of Jemma Hasratyan – Armenia on January 2, 2006.
Armenian Association of Women with University Education – Armenia. Contact: aawue@arminco.com. The Armenian Association of Women with University Education (AAWUE) works to support the advancement of women in Armenia. AAWUE offers a two-year program to educate and train the next generation of women leaders of Armenia, and to inform the public about the integral relationship between human rights, women’s rights, and civic activism in a democratic society. The program provides training at both the beginning and advanced levels for women activists. Dr. Jemma Hasratyan is the President.
All activities in 1996-1999 focused on the development of the network of the Association, on the establishment of branches in the capital and in the regions, on education of the Association’s leaders and activists, and on staging the events, which would bring women to the international women’s movement. We were also studying the legislation on women’s issues, the international women’s movement, and the experience of other countries.
The Armenian Association of Women with University Education, a non-governmental, non-profit organization, was established on December 13, 1995. (See all references on hra.am).
Armenia: Culture of Peace – Culture of Democracy: Since 1999, the Armenian Association of Women with University Education (AAWUE) has linked the culture of peace to the building of a democratic society. AAUWE members have organized a series of workshops throughout the country looking at different facets of this question – democratic methods of resolving civil conflict, the importance of political dialogue, the role of NGOs in overcoming intolerance, rights and human dignity, and citizen participation. The programme has involved political scientists, philosophers, sociologists, lawyers, psychologists, educators and economists. One example was a three-day international Conference in Tsakhkadzor on « Dialogue Among Civilizations »: Democracy & Peace », looking at issues of « Globalization as a humanitarian issue », « Globalization among cultures as a way to overcome threats to humanity’s peace and progress », « Civil society: evolution of democratic values in transforming societies » and the « Protection of human rights and freedos as an imperataive of modern civilitzation ».
September 2005 marked the 10th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing. The 49th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2005 was devoted to the implementation of the Fourth World Conference on Women. The latter contributed, on the one hand, to drawing the attention of the central government entities to women’s issues and to issues of the advancement of women into governance and decision-making and, on the other hand, to invigorating the civic movement.
The Beijing Conference spurred the activities of women’s NGOs many of which also changed their priorities from humanitarian and charity interventions to socio-political activities. Many women, who had been participants of the Beijing Conference and of the NGO Forum, initiated the establishment of NGOs and promoted the networking of women’s NGOs. For the past 10 years the paradigm for formulation of issues by women’s NGOs has also been changed. Women’s NGOs has come to realize the necessity of addressing not merely women’s issues but the most societally significant ones. A shift to new approaches to gender equality, viz. from equal rights to equal opportunities, has occurred in the operation of women’s NGOs. The latter started to campaign more vigorously for elimination of discrimination against women in politics and employment and against feminization of poverty and to lobby for women’s right to participation in governance and decision-making.
During the post-Beijing years drastic personnel changes in the top positions in the public administration have occurred in Armenia. Changes have occurred also in the civic movement, with younger generations becoming engaged more actively. Thus, there has been a major generational change of personnel and activists in both public administration system and civic movement.
UN DPI together with the first DPI-Associated Armenian NGO Armenian Association of Women with University Education (AAWUE) and the Women’s Weekly Newspaper Zaruhi staff has developed the following project. (Read more on undpi.am).
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