In this episode, young political leaders Nona Otaryan, Anahit Harutunyan, Margarita Hakobyan and Marta Simonyan highlight the necessity of encouraging more women to be active in the political sphere. The panelists, representing four different political parties, discuss their own reasons for becoming active as well as the reasons women’s participation in public life is imperative to the principles of democracy and social development.
Women’s involvement in the liberation movement of Nagorno-Karabakh is often overlooked. This segment addresses the ways women have coped with displacement, the loss of family, and the psychological impact armed conflict has had on their lives. The episode also highlights the direct role women played in the success of the struggle.
Members of Parliament and civic activists participated in a panel disucssion about the issue of violence against women. This segment recognized the various organizations and programs that have recently been created to proivde legal, economic and psychological support for victims of domestic violence. Panelists emphasized the importance of both legal remedies and societal mindsets as key elements to stop gender based violence.
The reproductive health of women is a serious area of concern in Armenia today. In this segment health care experts, Karine Saribekyan, Sevada Hakobyan, Anush Poghosyan and Nelly Avakyan address the multiple reasons for increasing infertility rates, abortion rates as well as the importance of preventative care.
Expert panelists Karineh Guyumjian, Alina Poghosyan, Arman Melkonyan and Vardan Gevorgyan discuss the impacts of mass migration on women’s lives. Raising a family alone is identified as a significant challenge women face when men migrate for long-term employment. Changes in women’s roles and responsibilities in society is also addressed. With the absence of their husbands, women must continue their domestic responsiblities as well as take on tasks traditionally performed by men.
The objective of this segment was to showcase successful Armenian women business owners and breadwinners, in order to begin dismantling rigid stereotypes that are prevalent in our traditionally patriarchal society. Women entrepreneurs and managers participated as panelists to discuss how they have become equal particpants of economic life.