HMF will be conducting an important and timely study about monopolies in Armenia with an emphasis on the food, fuel and construction industries in the country. The most important contributing factor to the rise of monopolies in Armenia is the political influence that certain business interests have enjoyed due to their special connections with the ruling regime. As a result, public welfare has been compromised and losses to Armenian society at large have been registered. The objective of this study will be to disclose the degree of economic concentration in the Republic of Armenia, the negative impact that monopolies exert on the economy and the existing anti-trust legislation. The experience of former socialist countries, the European Union and the United States will be considered and an appropriate model for Armenia will be recommended. Thereafter, the study will be published and presented to policy makers from the executive and legislative branches of power, civil society organizations, research institutions and think tanks, mass media and the public at large.
In cooperation with Yerkir Media, and funded by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation (HMF) produced six television episodes about the challenges and achievements of women in Armenia. The segments highlighted the difficulties encountered by women in private and public life, while showcasing the positive impact they have had in the development of Armenian society. Below you can find a brief summary of each segment, as well as video links to watch them online. Through this documentary, HMF was able to recognize some of the most resilient and influential women of Armenia who have broken barriers and who are charting a new course for future generations.
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.
The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation in cooperation with Yerkir Media TV and through the financial support of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry produced a six-part mini-series, “Women in Armenia.” The segments included the following topics – business, politics, healthcare, armed conflict, domestic violence and sexual harassment, and migration. Each segment was aired on Yerkir Media’s “Hraparak” program with a moderator and four expert panelists. Individual documentaries highlighting the problems, challenges and successes in each sphere were presented during the show.
The staff at HMF met with some of the most resilient and influential women of our nation. They are the conduits for change, for creating a just, tolerant and unified country. They are helping to dismantle gender barriers on every front and they are doing it with bravado, compassion and commitment. It was an honor for us to work with them and to present the issues they are championing. We hope that this endeavor will contribute to their work. We would like to thank Yerkir Media for their cooperation and professionalism and a special thanks to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry for their gracious support.
AGHVERAN – On November 18-20, 2011 the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation organized a three-day training for youth. Twenty five members of the Armenian Youth Federation, the Nikol Aghbalyan Student’sUnionand the ARF Parliamentary Faction of the Youth Parliament participated in the training conducted by Bjӧrn Kulp of the Training Academy of Germany.
The training gave participants the necessary tools to determine priority areas of concern and conceptualize, organize and realize different events. Over a period of three days, the participants were given the tools on how to run a campaign about the issue of youth unemployment in Armenia. They were instructed about the basics of campaigning, the modules of a successful campaign, target groups and how to reach them, strategy, strategical partners and action planning.
The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation, in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, has published a policy paper entitled «Սոցիալական Բարեփոխումները Հայաստանում» (“Social Reforms in Armenia”) in both Armenian and English, focusing on employment, healthcare, and social housing.
Click on the links below to read the policy paper in Armenian or English:
Below is a list of links of some of the media outlets, which covered the “Social Reforms in Armenia” Policy Paper Presentation organized by the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation, which took place on November 8, 2011, at the Ani Plaza Hotel.
Below is a video interview on Yerkir Media’s “Երկրի հարց” talk-show, with Director of the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation, Maria Titizian and Member of Parliament of the Republic of Armenia, Ara Nranyan. Watch as they discuss the policy paper entitled “Social Reforms in Armenia” , which was published by the Hrayr Maroukhian foundation, and focuses on healthcare, social housing and employment in the RA.
