OXFAM: women in politics may help promote social issuesDecember 21, 2012 - 18:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - OXFAM Armenia in partnership with “Caucasus” Social Research Center carried out a research project aiming to study and reveal the gender-sensitive peculiarities of 2012 RA National Assembly elections. The main findings of the research project have been summarized into the “Participation for Change” publication. On December 21, the presentation of the “Participation for Change” book and a roundtable on research findings were held, with representatives of political parties, NGOs, research and scientific centers and mass media attending. Research revealed data which came to prove that the increase of number of female MPs in the would lead to a higher level of consideration and attention towards issues relating to women, children and vulnerable layers of population, social and healthcare problems, as well as to the humanization of politics and decision-making processes. Armenian parliamentary elections demonstrated that defining at least a 20% gender quota in the Electoral Code did not ensure the desired indicators. Women MPs constituted only the 10.7% of the overall number of MPs in the 5th convocation of National Assembly. Experts claim that the solution to this problem lies in setting the minimal threshold of gender quota as 30% in the Electoral Code and fixing the application of gender rotation principle in the proportional electoral lists. The research team drew the conclusion that the political route adopted by the Armenian government is still insufficiently gender sensitive. The situation can be improved if the Law on Equal rights and opportunities is adopted, with the priority included in the action plan of Eastern Partnership Armenia Platform, OXFAM press service reported. Oxfam’s mission is to reduce poverty and build a future free from the injustice of poverty. Present in Armenia since 1994 Oxfam implements various humanitarian and development programs in around 165 distant rural communities by closely collaborating with the government, more than 10 local non-governmental organizations, local self-governance bodies and regional authorities. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |