| United Nations | CEDAW/C/ARM/1/Corr.1 |
Committee on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women
Distr. GENERAL
11 February 1997
ENGLISH
ORIGINAL: FRENCH
COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
Seventeenth session
7-25 July 1997
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER
ARTICLE 18 OF THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL
FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
Initial reports of States parties
Corrigendum
ARMENIA
The attached text replaces the text found in CEDAW/C/ARM/1 (Part II),
paragraphs 1 to 99.
Article 1
1. In the Republic of Armenia, there is no discrimination on the basis of
social origin, race, nationality, sex, level of education, language,
religion, profession, residence, political and other views and other
criteria (art. 15 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia).
2. In the legislative acts adopted by the Parliament of Armenia, there is
no general definition of the expression "discrimination against women".
However under the new Constitution the equality of men and women is
guaranteed by several provisions.
3. Conventions ratified by the Republic of Armenia are considered
superior to national laws; therefore the International Bill of Human Rights
and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women guarantee the equality between men and women in Armenia.
4. The Republic of Armenia acceded to the following conventions in the
field of advancement of women and protection of women's rights:
- The 1950 Convention on equal pay for work of equal value for men
and women;
- The 1958 Discrimination (employment and occupation) Convention;
- The 1957 Convention on the nationality of married women.
5. Currently the Parliament is discussing the ratification of two more
international conventions: the 1962 Convention on Consent to Marriage,
Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriage, and the 1952
Convention on the Political Rights of Women.
Article 2
6. The Republic of Armenia regained its independence in 1991, is creating
new laws and adopted a new Constitution in 1995. International conventions
ratified by the Republic are in force and are considered superior to
national laws. International treaties and conventions contradicting the
Constitution may be only ratified after making necessary changes to the
Constitution.
7. The principle of equality of human rights of men and women is clearly
stated in articles 3, 4, 15 and 16 of the Constitution and indirectly
implied by a score of others.
8. The Criminal Code of Armenia provides for punishment for the following
actions, which are considered as acts of discrimination:
- Forcing a woman to have sexual relations (art. 113);
- Forbidding a woman to get married (art. 118);
- Forcing a woman to perform an abortion (art. 121);
- Refusal of work to a woman on the basis of her pregnancy
(art. 139).
9. Men and women enjoy the same rights at work, in both public and
private enterprises. They are entitled to equal pay for equal work.
10. The Parliament of the Republic of Armenia does not view the previous
laws and regulations of the Republic to be discriminatory against women and
thus has not enacted any modifications to them. On 8 July 1991, Parliament
adopted a resolution "on urgent measures for the protection of women,
maternity and childhood, and the strengthening of the family". Under the
resolution, women and mothers have been granted supplementary rights in the
fields of work and social security.
11. There is no special institution responsible for the protection of
women's rights. However, many public institutions do deal, inter alia,
with women's rights and other issues; among these are the Ministry for
Social Security and the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, a national
institution founded jointly by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Yerevan State University.
12. Legally, women enjoy full guarantees against discrimination: there
are no discriminatory laws, regulations, policies or practices against
women. Although a majority of women have received higher education and
work in all fields and the percentage of female students has long surpassed
that of male students in many fields of study, the unemployment rate among
women is higher (67 per cent) than among men. This, however, may be
accounted for by the fact that traditionally women are generally more
oriented towards children and the family; hence this cannot be viewed as an
effect of discrimination.
Article 3
13. The Republic of Armenia is embarked on the course of democratization
but is encountering many economic and social difficulties. These,
aggravated by the blockade, a drastic decline in living standards during
the period of transition, an increase in the unemployment rate, massive
impoverishment, etc., have affected the situation of women more than of
men. Hence, the Government has taken measures to devote special attention
and render social assistance to single mothers, large families and the
elderly. The Parliament's above-mentioned resolution "on urgent measures
for the protection of women, maternity and childhood, and the strengthening
of the family" is meant to address these objectives.
14. In the cultural life of the country women have the same opportunities
as men. In a country where culture occupies a central role in society,
women are found in this sphere's highest positions. In 1994, out of 29,482
people working in the institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry
of Culture of Armenia (theatres, concert halls, museums, libraries), 19,994
(67.8 per cent) were women. Seven Departments of Culture in the local
executive authorities were headed by women.
Article 4
15. Currently, there are a number of special measures in force which have
been adopted by the Government to accelerate the de facto equality between
men and women. All promotion and advancement mechanisms in the country are
available to men and women, with no discrimination and preference. Social
affairs departments have been established at different ministries and
agencies to see to the social needs of the population, primarily women and
children. The Parliament has a permanent Committee on Health and Social
Issues, and a Social Policy Department has been established in the
Government. Both were headed by women till mid-1996.
16. A national programme of action has been set up and includes the
following:
- The publishing and dissemination through the mass media of laws
and conventions on the protection of women's rights and the
advancement of women;
- Creation of TV and radio programmes to provide information and
advice on legal and other aspects of women's rights;
- Establishment of information and legal counselling services;
- Initiation of training sessions on the rights of working women for
senior staff in government institutions, enterprises and other
organizations.
Special measures have also been adopted to protect motherhood such as the
parliamentary resolution mentioned above; see paragraphs 10 and 13.
17. There have been additional modifications to the existing legislation.
In 1992, Parliament adopted a decision "on Amendments to the Marriage and
Family Code of the Republic of Armenia", which stipulates increases in
alimony payments and lowers the marriage age for women from 18 to 17.
Article 5
18. Women are free to choose any profession in the Republic of Armenia.
However, in order to safeguard women's health and maternity, they are not
allowed to work in positions requiring hard manual labour and on night
shifts. Further employment of pregnant women and nursing women under such
conditions is prohibited (arts. 184-187 of the Labour Code). However, it
is traditional for women also to be responsible for the upbringing of
children and housekeeping. This responsibility does not, however, stem
from a concept of the superiority or inferiority of either sex, but rather
from history and traditions where women enjoy the noble role of mother and
all the responsibilities that it entails.
19. The legislation of the Republic of Armenia contains appropriate
measures against violations of human rights (which are not divided into
women's and men's rights) and physical and moral abuse. In spite of legal
norms ensuring the equality of the sexes in employment and social life, men
have traditionally been the breadwinner in the family, while women have
taken care of the children and the household. Nevertheless, things have
changed and the role of women in supporting the family and in decision-
making has increased. The number of families with both spouses working is
constantly growing.
20. From 1990 to 1995 the following types of crimes, punished in
accordance with articles 112 and 114 of the Criminal Code of the Republic
of Armenia, were committed against women:
Type of crime 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Rape 25 30 20 18 23 17
Forcing to have sexual
contact - 3 5 3 4 9
Sexual contact with
persons under 16 12 14 12 5 13 5
Entering into marriage
relations with persons
under the age permitted
for marriage - 64 61 39 24 21
Forcing a woman to marry
or forbidding a woman to
get married 71 95 70 82 36 28
The possibility is not excluded, however, that the number of such cases may
be higher, since those who suffer assault may not turn for help to the law-
enforcement bodies as they would prefer to discuss their case with female
personnel.
21. Until recently the percentage of women in both professional and
general service categories in the Ministry of Interior did not exceed 5
per cent. However, a certain degree of progress has been observed lately.
A road traffic police unit consisting exclusively of women has been already
in charge of the traffic in Yerevan for several months and the number of
women students enrolling in the Police Academy is constantly increasing.
22. Bride purchase, repudiation of wives and female circumcision are not
practised in Armenia and have historically not been a problem for Armenian
society.
23. Polygamy is prohibited by law in the Republic of Armenia.
24. A dowry system exists informally in some rural areas and some social
groups, but it is not compulsory even for those strata. It operates more
in relation to the economic situation, since it is actually viewed as the
bride's parents' assistance to the newlyweds, a contribution to the
establishment of a new household. On the other hand, the groom's parents
often help the young couple by purchasing an apartment, a car, furniture,
etc. Many newly married couples live with the groom's parents, although
this may depend either on the tradition or family income.
25. During the Nagorno-Karabakh movement in 1988, and in harshest economic
and social conditions of newly achieved independence, Armenian women fought
next to the men for survival. Today society devotes more respect and
attention towards women, though women, especially mothers, have always
enjoyed the highest respect and devotion.
26. The role of the mother in the family is stressed, and maternal leave
is mandated by law. Article 5 of the Marriage and Family Code of the
Republic of Armenia states that:
"... the family is under the protection and care of the Government.
The state protects the family through establishing maternity homes,
nurseries, kindergartens, boarding schools and other children's
institutions and organizations; by means of creation and developing
consumer services and catering establishments, by rendering financial
assistance in the form of child allowances to mothers with many
children and single mothers, as well as by providing them with other
privileges and aid."
"Maternity in Armenia is subject to the special care of the State.
Special measures are taken to allow women to combine work and
motherhood, taking into consideration the woman's health and the
interest of the mother and child. All the conditions shall be
provided in the Republic for working mothers to protect their rights,
to give material and moral support to mothers and children, including
paid holidays for pregnancy and childbirth."
27. A women's health centre has been established at Erebouny Hospital in
Yerevan. Under the patronage of the First Lady, it is fully equipped with
the most modern equipment. A major centre for prenatal care has been
established at another hospital.
28. There are more than 30 women's organizations in the Republic which
promote the political, social and cultural rights of women. Some of those
organizations are professional and gather together women scientists,
artists, journalists and entrepreneurs. Others are engaged in social and
political activities: environmental protection, protection of motherhood,
childhood and gender equality. There are also international Armenian
women's organizations that include representatives of the Armenian
Diaspora. To enhance women's active participation in society, the non-
governmental Armenian Women's Council established a School for Women
Leaders in 1994. The school has the objective of preparing girls and young
women for future careers and high positions in society.
29. Among women's organizations, the non-governmental political
organization "Shamiram" won eight seats in the parliamentary elections of
1995 and became the second-largest faction in Parliament. There are
currently 12 women parliamentarians in the National Assembly of Armenia.
Though this number is considerably smaller than that of the female members
of the Supreme Council of Soviet Armenia, these MPs, unlike their Soviet
counterparts, are really engaged in the legislative process and are not
only formally registered as such for the sake of making the statistics look
more "democratic", as used to be the case.
30. Among the most important women's non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
are: the All Armenian Women, the Republican Council for Women, the
Armenian Intellectual Woman, "Mariam" Armenian Women's Association,
"Ghevond Alishan", Armenian Humanitarian Cross, Hayouhi, etc. Women's
rights are also promoted by some periodicals, such as Asghadavarouhi
(Working Women), Man and Women, Family, Karine, which cover various issues,
among them the advancement of women and obstacles to its achievement.
There are also several TV and radio programmes on family and women's
issues, including: "Hasmik", "Women's TV", "Armenian House".
31. In October 1994, Armenian women's NGOs organized an international
conference on "Women on the Eve of the Twenty-first Century". The main
theme of the conference, that women's rights are human rights, was later
stated by the delegation of Armenia from the podium of the Fourth World
Conference on Women, held at Beijing in September 1995, as an official
approach to the problem.
32. In 1994, the Armenian National Commission for UNESCO organized a
seminar on "The Situation of Women in the Countries of the Former Soviet
Union". During the seminar delegates from the former Soviet Republics
stated that the situation in their countries was almost identical:
certainly there existed problems for women, but they could not be solved in
isolation from other problems of society.
Article 6
33. In the Republic of Armenia, the literacy rate is 98 per cent and women
have the same rights as men to education. All schools are coeducational
except for a recently established lyce'e, which is exclusively for women.
Women have the same employment opportunities as men.
34. The traffic of women and prostitution are prohibited in the Republic
of Armenia. There are articles in the Criminal Code dealing specifically
with the traffic of women. According to article 179 of the Code, the
penalty for prostitution is a warning and a fine ranging from 50 per cent
to 100 per cent of the minimum wage. The penalty for running a brothel is
up to five years' imprisonment and the confiscation of one's property. The
increase in prostitution may be attributed to the deteriorated economic
situation. However, owing to the traditionally negative attitude towards
prostitution and its public condemnation by society, prostitution has not
been a major problem in Armenia and there is no sex tourism.
35. There have been no reported cases of rape of prostitutes.
Article 7
36. Women are on equal terms with men, and enjoy both the right to vote
and to be elected to all public positions. This right is guaranteed by
articles 27 and 64 of the Constitution and article 133 of the Penal Code:
- Article 3 of the Constitution states: "The elections for the
President, National Assembly and the local self-governing bodies
of the Republic of Armenia, as well as referendums, are held
based on the right to universal, equal and direct suffrage by
secret ballot";
- Article 133 of the Penal Code states: "The violation of the
electoral right of citizens by use of violence, threat, deception
or bribery is punishable by one to two years' imprisonment or two
years of community service."
37. There is no discrimination against women whatsoever in the legislation
of the Republic of Armenia. This holds as well for the right to occupy
government posts, perform other governmental functions, as well as
participate in non-governmental organizations concerned with the political
and public life of the country. However, in reality, although the number
of women working in government, Parliament and other administrative bodies
is quite high, there are fewer women than men holding high-level positions.
The Parliament of Armenia
Members of Parliament 1980 1985 1994 1995/96
Women 121 121 9 12
Men 219 219 240 178
38. From 1991 to 1994 there was only 1 woman minister out of 22, and only
3 women deputy ministers. Of 21 State Departments 4 were headed by women,
and heads of only 2 government agencies out of 31 had women deputies.
However, the number of women in the middle echelons of the Government is
higher. This is especially true for the spheres of culture, science,
education and health, where women make up 31 per cent of the staff.
Currently, of 23 ministries only 1, the Ministry of Social Security, is
headed by a woman minister.
Participation in power at the highest levels (1994)
Women Men
Highest level (Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, 16 304
State Minister, Minister, Deputy Ministers, head of (5% of the
department and agencies) total)
Middle level (staff of ministries, government
departments and agencies)
Economy 1 248 2 629
(46.8%)
Judicial system 216 737
(22.7%)
Science, culture, education, health, media 3 998 4 928
(81.1%)
39. The percentage of women in the executive branch at the highest level
is only 5 per cent. Although it has been impossible to retrieve data for
1980 and 1985, rough estimates show that during those years the percentage
of women in the highest echelons of the Government did not exceed
8 per cent to 10 per cent. On average, the proportion of women involved in
the middle and lower echelons of the Government of Armenia was
36.8 per cent in 1994. In the same period, women in local self-government
bodies of Armenia constituted 41 per cent in Yerevan, 42 per cent in other
towns and villages and 47 per cent as public notaries and in local bar
associations.
Staff of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the
Republic of Armenia
1980-1985 1994 1995/96
Women 143 150 42%
Men 560 573 58%
These figures include women with a degree in legal sciences who work as
heads of departments, judges and senior advisers. The remaining 134 are
support personnel-accountants, heads of offices, typists, cleaners and
couriers.
40. Gender restrictions regarding the above-mentioned posts have not been
observed and no quotas have been ever set for women employees or
appointees.
Article 8
41. Since its Declaration of Independence in 1991, the Republic of Armenia
has become a full member of the international community. Armenia has
established about 30 representations in other countries and at
international organizations; however, the number of representatives must
still grow. Women constitute 21 per cent of the diplomats working for the
Foreign Ministry. Among diplomats serving at embassies and representations
of Armenia abroad, 27 per cent are women. The number of women who are
members or heads of official delegations to international meetings and
conferences is steadily increasing. Currently there are no data available
on the number of citizens of the Republic of Armenia working within the
United Nations system and regional organizations.
Article 9
42. Issues concerning citizenship are addressed in the following
provisions of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Citizenship:
- Article 3, paragraph 2: "The citizens of the Republic of Armenia
are equal before the law irrespective of the procedure by which
the citizenship has been gained, irrespective of nationality,
race, sex, language, faith, political or other views, or social
origin, and have the same rights, freedoms and responsibilities
envisaged by laws and the Constitution";
- Article 6: "The marriage of a woman who is a citizen of the
Republic of Armenia to an alien does not automatically change her
citizenship, and vice versa."
43. According to article 11:
"A child obtains citizenship of Armenia irrespective of the place
of its birth if its parents are citizens of Armenia. If one of the
parents of the child is an alien and the other is a citizen of the
Republic of Armenia, the citizenship is determined by the parents'
written agreement.
"In case of the absence of such agreement the child obtains
Armenian citizenship if it is born in Armenia; or in case of not
obtaining Armenian citizenship the child remains without citizenship.
In case its parents permanently reside in the Republic of Armenia, the
child obtains Armenian citizenship. If one of the parents of the
child is a citizen of Armenia and the other is unknown or has no
citizenship, the child becomes a citizen of Armenia."
Thus, in granting citizenship, the law does not set priorities in terms of
the citizenship of either parent. Mothers can confer their nationality on
their children on an equal footing. Minors can travel on the passports of
both parents.
44. A woman may obtain a passport without obtaining the permission of her
spouse or anyone else. Neither is the permission of her husband required
for a woman to travel outside the country.
Article 10
45. In the Republic of Armenia women and men have equal rights in the
field of education. Women outnumber men in institutions of higher
education and women have the same opportunities in choosing careers.
46. All seven-year-old children (boys and girls) have the right to enter
the first grade of coeducational public schools. Subjects offered to all
students in higher grades include the humanities, physics, mathematics,
economics, biology, chemistry, vocational and agricultural fields. The
State supports all public schools; however, proposals for the establishment
of private secondary institutions are also under discussion by the Ministry
of Education. Those who do not continue past the eighth grade receive a
school-leaving certificate. Those who finish secondary school receive a
certificate which notes their educational level and their grades and is the
prerequisite for entering institutions of higher learning. Education until
the eighth grade is compulsory in the Republic of Armenia. As of 1996,
there were 1,385 schools in Armenia.
47. The overall literacy rate as of 1995 is 98 per cent. Information is
not available on the proportion of the total 2 per cent of the illiterate
population that are women. Precise data on the school drop-out rates of
girls vs. boys are not available either; however, the drop-out rate is
close to zero.
48. Assistance to children from low-income and poor families is organized
based on appeals by parents and by special decisions of the School
Executive Committees. Lack of heating in winter has caused the
interruption of education process at schools and universities (at least for
three months). This, together with the energy crises, is now being
overcome. High fees and irregular schedules of public transportation have
contributed to lower attendance rates. Public transportation costs have
now stabilized but still remain high, although students receive a discount
for their monthly tickets. Many of the country's economic difficulties
resulting in the deterioration of education and science still remain. In
spite of all these mentioned difficulties, students continue to attend
schools and universities. In 1994, the State budget allotment for
education was only 4.5 per cent; in 1995 it was 4.7 per cent.
49. In 1993, there were 20 private universities, institutes and colleges
in Armenia, with a total of 8,797 students, representing 14.6 per cent of
the total number of students in the country. There are currently 70
private educational institutions in Armenia, all licensed by the
Government. Enrolment is over 20,000, of which more than half of the
students are women. The percentage of female students in State-sponsored
institutions of higher learning (with a significantly larger enrolment) is
similarly higher than that of males.
50. There are no quotas for women in the areas of school enrolment or
scholarship allocation.
51. Among traditionally "female" fields are health care, where women
constituted 90 per cent of the students (1994); and education and the arts,
where they made up 78.9 per cent of the students (1994). However, their
number is also significant in the fields of economics (41.9 per cent as of
1994) and industry, transportation and communications (about 40 per cent).
The country has world-renowned women artists, singers, poets, writers and
actresses. During recent years there has been a significant increase in
women students in the field of radio-electronics, computer sciences,
chemistry, as well as the new fields of management, banking, marketing,
international relations and international law.
Percentage of teachers at institutions of secondary education
(by gender)
1980 1985 1994
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Primary School
(1-3 classes) 11.3 88.7 7.6 92.4 5.3 94.7
Secondary School
(4-10 classes) 31.5 68.5 29.1 70.5 21.3 78.7
Number of women in institutions of higher education
Total number of employees Women Per cent
1980 58 100 28 100 48
1985 34 849 29 454 53.70
1990 68 397 31 417 45.93
1994 46 507 24 230 52.10
Number of women in science as of 1993
1993 1995
Total number Women Total number Women
Organization of employees (per cent) of employees (per cent)
(per cent)
Research institutions 24 260 12 300 15 040 6 700
(50.7) (44.5)
National Academy 6 886 3 171 4 776 2 398
(51.8) (50.2)
Number of students graduated
(by gender and field of specialization)
Year
1980 1985 1994
Field of specialization Male Female Male Female Male Female
Technical (engineering
and science) 760 3 040 860 3 440 840 860
Economics 320 480 360 540 400 700
Pedagogics 1 000 400 1 000 200 800 100
Health 350 400 500 100 300 40
Foreign languages 130 130 140 140 a a
Music, Arts 200 400 300 500 200 400
Agriculture 60 340 60 340 300 100
Veterinary medicine 270 130 350 150 600 150
Sports and public health 100 200 100 200 100 200
a/ Not available, although women prevail in this field (women constitute
about 90 per cent of students studying foreign/European languages and about
half of the students studying Oriental languages).
From 1980 to 1989, there were 12,300 (50.7 per cent) women out of a total
of 24,260 individuals in the research institutions. At the Academy of
Sciences there were 3,171 women out of a total of 6,886. Of these, 532
women were candidates in sciences, 47 were doctors and 5 were members of
the Academy. Armenia is the fourth largest Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) recipient of scientific grants from the Soros Foundation. In
1995, 97 grants (21 per cent) out of a total of 456 to Armenian scientists,
were received by women.
52. Education abroad has also become available since the democratization
of the country. Today, 50 per cent of the young people studying abroad are
women.
53. The Armenian National Commission for UNESCO has submitted to the
UNESCO headquarters in 1994 a report on the national education strategy.
This official policy paper of the Government of Armenia on education reform
will serve as a basis for a plan of action to transform the Armenian system
into the Western (basically European) educational system. The document
focuses also on the participation of women in the education process.
Article 11
54. Every citizen has the right to free choice of employment. Everyone
has the right to a just wage no lower than the minimum set by the State and
to working conditions meeting safety and health requirements (art. 29 of
the Labour Code); men and women enjoy the same rights in this sphere as
well (art. 14). Women receive the same wages as men for the same work and
are entitled to equal advancement opportunities (art. 83). Employers are
forbidden to refuse to hire, or to fire, women on the grounds of pregnancy
or maternity (art. 197 of the Labour Code). In the 1970s, the proportion
of women among workers and administrative staff was 41 per cent; in 1980 it
was 46 per cent; and in 1989 48 per cent.
Employment by spheres a/
1980 1985 1993 1995
Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men
TOTAL
551 421 660 746 648 601 732 123 440 433 465 953 248 068 167 692
45.5% 54.5% 46.9% 53.1% 48.6% 51.4% 59.6% 50.4%
Industry
349 314 516 980 414 622 564 952 213 716 338 295 129 927 116 615
40.3% 59.7% 42.3% 57.7% 38.7% 61.3% 52.7% 47.3%
Culture education
202 107 143 766 233 979 167 171 226 717 127 658 118 141 51 077
58.4% 41.6% 58.3% 41.7% 63.9% 36.1% 69.8% 30.2%
Source: State Statistics Administration.
a/ This table does not include agriculture, trade and services, as well as
the number of those who emigrated from Armenia in 1992-1994, a figure
especially difficult to estimate.
55. Women are considered equal to men in their right to social security,
health protection as well as other rights. It is prohibited by law to fire
a pregnant woman or to transfer her to a lower-paid job without her
agreement (art. 197 of the Labour Code).
56. A mother receives 70 days' paid leave before the child's birth and is
entitled to two years' maternity leave as well as a number of other
privileges (arts. 189-193 of the Labour Code and Supreme Council resolution
267). The State supports many aspects of maternity; it subsidizes vouchers
for holiday homes, rest houses for pregnant women, extra vacations for
women having children; it creates opportunities to work according to a
schedule convenient to the mother; and allows regular rest breaks at work.
All these privileges and social guarantees are listed in articles 193 to
196 and 264 to 265 of the Labour Code of the Republic of Armenia.
57. The former Soviet Union created an extensive social safety net/system
of welfare and allowances, which was inherited, among other current CIS
States, by Armenia. Kindergartens and a wide range of other institutions
provide care for children and assist in their upbringing. Payments are
reduced for families with many children and low income. This system covers
641,852 elderly pensioners (of whom 352,700 are women), 1,132,400
adolescents, 19,283 single mothers, thousands of orphans and disabled from
the 1988 earthquake, and other vulnerable population groups. Falling under
this category also are the 152,636 unemployed who lost their jobs in the
transition to a free market economy (source: State Statistics
Administration).
58. During 1993-1994, per capita income decreased drastically, and today
the majority of the population exists below the poverty line. About
90 per cent of per capita income is spent on basic commodities - primarily
food and communal services. However, a minimum salary is hardly enough to
cover even such a limited basket. Many people have to rely on savings and
sell family belongings. Although the decline in the economy has halted
since 1995 and some growth has been observed, with income also increasing,
the living standard is still far from sufficient. The newly established
market relations are contributing to the obvious stratification of the
society into layers with clearly demarcated high and low income levels.
59. There are 19,283 single mothers in Armenia. The greater number of
these inhabit urban areas, about 40 per cent of them living in the city of
Yerevan alone. The number of children in these families is 21,996 (source:
State Statistics Administration). The proportion of single mothers with
one child is 86 per cent; with two or more 14 per cent.
60. Owing to a lack of financial resources, many child care facilities are
not in operation, thus aggravating the conditions of working mothers and
families in general. In 1994, the child care facilities were attended by
104,056 children, while their actual capacity was 145,618.
61. As a rule, women refugees are always in the most difficult situation.
For five days in January of 1990, the Armenian community of Baku, the
capital of Azerbaijan, were killed, tortured, robbed and humiliated.
Pregnant women and babies were molested, little girls were raped in front
of their parents' eyes, Christian crosses were burned on their backs, and
they were abused for their Christian faith.
62. In 1993, the refugees, migrants and internally displaced Armenians
constituted 14 per cent of the entire population of Armenia (418,000
persons). Of these, 55 per cent were women. About 1 million persons, or
30 per cent of the population of the country, did not have shelter; of
these 514,000 lived in the disaster area. However, many of these refugees
have since migrated to other countries, and these figures are subject to
further verification.
63. According to various investigators, refugee women live in conditions
that are more difficult than those of men living in similar situations.
For example, the number of people living in extreme poverty is
significantly higher in the rural areas. This is mainly attributable to
the fact that the majority of women refugees are unaccustomed to rural
life; they face such difficulties as lack of fuel and basic facilities, and
are unaccustomed to working on the land.
64. A national programme for the social and economic integration of
refugees is being implemented by the Government of Armenia. This programme
will afford a solution to the shelter, employment and social issues of
refugees and the displaced within the next five years. The most vulnerable
refugees receive assistance from the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the
International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of
the Red Cross, the European Community Humanitarian Office, the United
States Government and other organizations.
65. The number of unemployed women in the Republic of Armenia was
estimated in May 1994 by the Centre of Employment at 69,615. Of these,
3,399 had children under two years of age, 1,745 had three or more children
and 107 were handicapped. Women constituted 63.9 per cent of the
unemployed urban population. The unemployment rate in the rural areas was
significantly lower: 15,990, of which 8,379, or 52.4 per cent, were women.
As of 1995, of the 152,636 unemployed registered at the Centre for
Employment, 109,232 were women.
66. In 1993, the Government of Armenia adopted a decision on "Payment of a
Monthly Allowance to People with the Status of Unemployed and Mothers with
Children under Two Years of Age". As of 1996, for each child under the age
of six, parents received 1,200 drams (US$ 2.6), regardless of their
employment status. The unemployment allowance is 1,300 drams (US$ 2.8).
All jobless persons receive state support and are referred to jobs where
such possibilities exist. The international community and Armenians of the
Diaspora have assisted unemployed women and poor families.
67. There is no specific law concerning women working in agriculture.
Women in this area enjoy the same benefits as other women in society.
Though the privatization of the land has notably increased the workload of
every rural dweller, after the closing of many factories and enterprises in
rural areas, many professional staff - engineers, technicians, accountants -
were laid off.
Article 12
68. A wide range of medical services is organized to address the problems
of maternal care. There are local services, maternity hospitals and
hospitals with maternity wards. Leave is granted during pregnancy and
after birth (the duration of this leave was recently lengthened to 140
days). Medical assistance for children as well as for mothers is regulated
by the State and is accessible by the entire population.
69. In the triennium 1987-1989 the maternal mortality ratio was 40.0 and
in the following triennium (1990-1992) it had dropped to 38.5. The
fertility rate increased from 2.3 children per woman in 1980 to 2.57 in
1991. Although fertility is still increasing, the rate of increase has
obviously declined.
Year 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Thousand persons 74.400 73.400 17.900 13.200 12.900
A study of over 4,000 randomly selected women of child-bearing age in
Yerevan between 1989 and 1991 revealed very high secondary infertility
rates; 21.4 per cent of the women sampled had experienced primary
infertility.
70. In 1992, the following rate of contraceptive use was reported:
pill: 1.6 per cent; diaphragm: 0.08 per cent; never used any means of
contraception: 33 per cent. Abortions are not prohibited in Armenia.
However, they are permitted only until the fourteenth week of pregnancy, in
order not to endanger the woman's life. Physicians performing illegal
abortions are sentenced to two years of forced labour, fined and may be
deprived of the right to practice for up to three years. People performing
an abortion and without a medical degree are sentenced to three years'
imprisonment or one to two years' forced labour. In the case of several
instances of the above-mentioned infractions or if one of them has resulted
in the death of the patient, the sentence is eight years' imprisonment
(art. 120 of the Criminal Code). Forcing a woman to perform an abortion is
punishable by a year's imprisonment or forced labour, or public
condemnation (art. 121 of the Criminal Code).
71. Officially the number of abortions was 2.7 per woman in 1994. But in
reality abortion is the primary method of birth control in Armenia. In
1992, the ratio of known abortions to live births was 405 per 1,000 (or 1
abortion for every 2.5 births). While this ratio is higher than in the
Western European States, it is one of the lowest among the newly
independent States.
72. According to available statistics on anaemia in pregnant women in
Armenia, there has been a considerable increase in both attendance at
clinics for anaemic women and the incidence of anaemia among women over the
past three years. The rates for the latter in Armenia were 24.6 per cent
in 1990.
73. The Ministry of Health with the assistance of the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) has identified the following problems concerning
women's health:
þ Defective prenatal health services, for instance, the absence of
prenatal control in women's consultation services;
þ Deficient breastfeeding;
þ Virtual absence of family planning services and supply of
effective contraceptives (frequent abortions, used as the
principal means of birth control, result in infertility among
women);
þ Nutritional deficiencies and related conditions in pregnant women
and young mothers, including iron deficiency anaemia.
74. One of the more serious problems in Armenia is the lack of family
planning services. The Ministry of Health is now working to establish
these services and has instituted a new project to improve prenatal
services. Termination of pregnancy as a means of birth control is a common
practice. The Ministry of Health obtains contraceptives with the
assistance of different international organizations. It also provides
hospitals with the necessary information regarding the advantages of using
these contraceptives. The development of an artificial insemination centre
and the use of the laporoscopic method in gynaecology are new steps in the
development of Armenia's family planning services.
75. The Ministry of Health has instituted a programme for combating
HIV/AIDS. During the past five years no cases of HIV/AIDS have been
reported among pregnant women.
76. Today, women work without obstacles in all medical fields and
professions and occupy high-ranking positions within those professions. In
1996, 13.5 per cent of the government budget was allocated to health care.
This is a high rate internationally and reflects the emphasis placed upon
this sphere by the Government.
77. Female circumcision has never been practised in Armenia.
78. Statistics on the number of teenage pregnancies and the age brackets
of teenage mothers are not available.
79. The mortality rate for infants under 1 year is 12.8 per cent. This
rate has recently decreased as shown below:
Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
For every 1,000 births 18.5 17.9 18.5 17.08 14.7 12.8
The mortality rate for children from one to five has fluctuated over the
same period as follows:
The average number of children in families is 2.2.
80. There are no accurate data on drug addiction among women.
Article 13
81. Since October 1993, a new network of social services has been in place
in Armenia, with the objective of providing assistance especially to
persons with low income and to poor families, regardless of gender. In
1994, there were 65 such services in the Republic of Armenia which
distributed humanitarian assistance to different social groups, provided
family support and took care of single elderly persons and the handicapped.
Social assistance is provided to families regardless of sex, nationality or
religion.
82. Of the nearly 95,000 handicapped in Armenia (most became handicapped
as a result of the earthquake in 1988), nearly 40,000 are women. Single
elderly persons and the handicapped are full wards of the State. Single
mothers and mothers with many children enjoy the same privileges: rights
to apartments, furniture, vouchers and the right to obtain credits from the
State.
83. Pregnant women and women with children under one year of age cannot be
sentenced to death. In some cases sentences of imprisonment for women can
be changed to a conditional sentence.
84. Women enjoy equal rights with men in obtaining family benefits, bank
loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit.
85. Women enjoy equality with men in cultural life, including sports, in
recreational activities and elsewhere. They occupy an important place in
the cultural life of the Republic of Armenia. There are well-known women
academicians, musicians, dancers, painters, writers and chess players.
Article 14
86. Women as well as men are entitled to own land. Problems arising from
women working in rural areas are dealt with in the general context of
society's problems. There are no separate or specific rules or regulations
concerning women in rural areas. Currently, the new social services which
extend throughout all regions of the Republic pay much needed attention to
problems of the family and to the improvement of the social position of
women within the family. The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with
UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), has developed a project to
improve women's health in rural areas. Statistics are unavailable on the
percentage of women in agriculture and on the difference in the rate of
progress of women in urban vs. rural environments.
87. In 1991-1992, Armenia carried out a land privatization programme
involving the creation of 304,000 (302,400 individual and 1,600 collective)
private farms. Land was distributed according to household, with equal
ownership rights for households headed either by men or women.
Article 15
88. According to the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, women and men
enjoy equal rights in both criminal and civil trials (art. 8 of the
criminal Procedure Code; art. 5 of the Civil Procedure Code):
- Article 8 of the Criminal Procedure Code states:
"Justice is dispensed in criminal cases and tribunals on the
basis of equality of citizens before the law, without taking into
consideration the origin, social class, property, race, nationality,
sex, education, language, religious beliefs, profession, residence and
other criteria of the parties involved."
- Article 5 of the Civil Procedure Code states:
"Justice is dispensed in civil cases only by tribunals and on the
basis of equality of citizens before the law without taking into
consideration the origin, social class, property, race, nationality,
sex, education, language, religious beliefs, profession, residence and
other criteria of the parties involved."
89. Women in Armenia enjoy equal real estate ownership and other property
rights. According to article 3 of the Family and Marriage Code, husbands
and wives possess equal personal property rights. Women are on equal terms
with men and have the right to enter contractual relations alone in their
own right. A woman can use her hame for these purposes, without the
requirement of second persons, or collateral persons, as beneficiary or
dependant, except for property obtained during the common life of the
spouses that belongs equally to both members of the couple.
90. As of 1 November 1996, 336 persons have been licensed by the Ministry
of Justice to engage in the practice of law. Of these, 74 are women. Of
the 72 public notaries in the Republic, 41 are women. By 12 January and
1 April 1996 decrees of the President of the Republic of Armenia, 94 judges
were appointed. Of these, 25 are women, the youngest being 30 years old,
and the oldest, 57. Of the 6,825 elected jurors, 3,228 are women. There
are no restrictions for women to serve on juries and to testify as
witnesses.
91. Men and women have equal rights relating to the movement of persons
and the freedom to choose their residence and domicile.
Article 16
92. In the Republic of Armenia, spouses have equal rights in entering into
a marriage, during the marriage and at its dissolution. However, during a
divorce, the interests of the children, if there are any, are considered
paramount. Rights and obligations concerning marriage and family relations
are codified in the Family and Marriage Code of the Republic of Armenia.
93. According to article 1 of the Family and Marriage Code, the Code's
purpose is to contribute to the building of family relations based on the
free and full consent of the spouses, free of any financial motivation, on
the basis of love and respect. Marriages may be conducted only by mutual
consent (art. 14) and after the parties have reached the legal age of
marriage (art. 15), which is 17 years for women.
94. Marriage is considered legal only if it is registered with the
relevant public institution (art. 6 of the Family and Marriage Code).
95. Citizens have equal rights in family relations without any
consideration of origin, social condition, race, nationality, sex,
education, language, religious beliefs and residence (art. 4).
96. During marriage each spouse has the right to keep his/her hame, or to
choose the name of the other spouse (art. 18).
97. During their common life, decisions on matters relating to the
children are taken equally by both spouses. Each spouse has the right to
choose his or her profession, workplace and residence (art. 19).
98. In case of divorce the common property is divided equally between the
spouses; however, certain privileges are granted to the spouse who is to
take care of the children. Parents, irrespective of gender, have to pay
alimony for children if they are not in their custody after divorce. The
amount of the alimony depends upon the income of the parent (art. 21).
99. The betrothal and the marriage of a child do not have any legal
effect. The minimum age for marriage as determined under the relevant
legislation is 17, but in exceptional cases this can be reduced by one year
for women (art. 15).
100. Polygamy is prohibited by law (art. 123 of the Criminal Code) and is
punished by up to three years' imprisonment or up to a year's forced
labour.
101. Women have equal rights with men to initiate divorce proceedings, to
remarry and to retain custody of children and receive child support.
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