Human rights defenders call on Armenian authorities to adopt anti-discrimination law

In Armenia, the absence of anti-discrimination laws and the proper implementation of existing norms on gender equality have a negative impact on women. This is stated in the report of the anti-discrimination centre "Memorial" and the Institute of Civil Society, prepared by the UN Committee session on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

Human rights defenders call on the Armenian authorities to pay more attention to the promotion of the idea of equality of rights between men and women, members of various minorities, both ethnic and gender. The activists also urge "to bring to justice persons involved dissemination of sexist, homophobic and xenophobic attitudes."

Besides, according to the human rights defenders, "it is necessary to cancel the list of occupations forbidden to women and ensure the equality of women for admission to institutions of higher education to all faculties, including military."

The authors of the report suggest that the special attention should be given to the right to education of women and girls of ethnic minorities. Meanwhile, religious education should be removed from school curriculum and left for the discretion of families and communities.

Besides, in their report, the human rights defenders also mention the problem with integration into society of women who returned from labour migration or who were lost without income after their family members had left the country and stopped transferring money for them.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.