Family abuse and sex-selective abortions are displays of gender inequality in Armenia, Lara Ahaornyan, co-chair of Women's Resource Center, told ArmInfo.
The expert said gender discrimination is evident in Armenia in all fields, starting from political up to social one. Aharonyan points at the sex-selective abortions, an indicator that has led Armenia to leading positions in the world.
As it was reported earlier, a survey in the field revealed that the infant sex ratio in the country today is 114-115 boys per 100 girls. This is one of the highest indicators in the world after China (118) and Azerbaijan (116). The normal ratio is 102 -106 boys to 100 girls.
Aharonyan believes that family abuse is another display of gender inequality. By data of the latest surveys in the country, 59% of women in Armenia say they faced family abuse in one form or another in their lifetime. In 2013, 9 women died as a result of domestic violence in the country. Another field of gender discrimination is the labor market where women are paid less than men. There are even the so-called 'female' professions (psychologists, sociologists) and 'male' professions (banker, financier).
Aharoyan urges Government's attention to the gender problems in the country. She recalled that a Law On Equal Rights and Opportunities for Men and Women was adopted in the country last year, but there are still no mechanisms to implement it.
A Conference on Issues of Anti-discrimination kicked off in Yerevan on 11 November. The event is organized by the Eurasia Partnership Armenia Foundation with the support from the Netherlands Government. Experts from Armenia, Georgia and Moldova have attended the event.