Armenians are concerned of gender inequality in governing bodies, poll results say

Eighty-one percent of Armenians are convinced that the country has a problem of inequality of men and women in their representation in power bodies. Of them, 38 percent of respondents believe the problem is very acute, and only 15 percent believe that the quantitative inequality is not a problem. The study was conducted within the framework of the Programme "Women's capacity building in peace construction in Southern Caucasus".

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Natalia Martirosyan, coordinator of the above Programme for Armenia, that in the second half of October about 400 residents of the cities of Yerevan, Gori and Sisian, and of the villages of Khachik and Kornidzor, located in the border with Azerbaijan, were interrogated.

The aim of the poll was to clarify the role of women and reveal their potential in management issues and at the decision-making level. According to Ms Martirosyan, 65 percent of respondents - both men and women - indicated the need to draft and adopt the laws aimed at higher involvement of women in power structures; and 76 percent said that protection of women's rights shall be a priority for the state.

Another most important block of the programme is on women's participation in the processes of peace-building and conflict-settlement. According to Natalia Martirosyan, the polls conducted on the topic show that more than a third of the respondents indicate the possibility of progress in the negotiation process in case women take part in them. Meanwhile, almost as many respondents do not see any difference in conflict settlement related to women's participation in the negotiation process.

The main donor of the above programme planned for the period of three years is the European Union and the Foundation "Austrian Cooperation Development".