Yerevan, Armenia, 25 November 2015. – The Armenian Government, the US and British Embassies, Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, OSCE Office in Yerevan, Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, United Nations Armenia Office jointly with civil society partners launched today the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The event included a press briefing; awards ceremony of "My Daughter" essay contest; and opening of a photography exhibition "Woman, Woman."

The press briefing panel included Mr, Garik Hayrapetyan, UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Mr. Filaret Berikyan, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Issues, H.E. Mr. Richard M. Mills, US Ambassador in Armenia, H.E. Ms. Judith Farnworth, UK Ambassador in Armenia, H.E. Mr. Andrey Sorokin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ms. Natalia Voutova, Head of Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, Mr. Dirk Lorenz, Counsellor, Head of Political, Economic, Press and Information, Section at the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ms. Nelly Duryan, Chief of the Juvenile Desk of the Department of Criminal Investigation at the Police, and Ms. Zaruhi Hovhannisyan, Coordinator of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women.

Mr. Garik Hayrapetyan, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. opened the event by noting: “Violence against women and girls not only ruins families and breaks lives of those involved, but also poses a threat to the economic and social progress of our whole society, and UNFPA's most recent study confirms that.” Mr. Hayrapetyan read out the joint statement of the panel parties on the occasion, which was followed by speeches from panel members and Q&A session with the media - for details read the press release in English.

Following the press briefing, UNFPA Armenia and Mediamax media company gave awards to the three winners of the "My Daughter" essay contest, which was aimed at increasing the value of the girl child and ultimately helping to tacke the problems of gender equality and prenatal sex selection in Armenia. 

"The hardest part was to read all the 122 essays and choose the winner. I could hardly control my emotions, I cried several times", said Mr. Hayrapetyan. It was Mediamax's idea to organize this amazing contest that was put to life in cooperation with UNFPA and brought such heartwarming and exciting results.

The award winning ceremony was followed by opening of the “Woman, Woman” photo exhibition and remarks by 4Plus Documentary Photography Center that put together the exhibition.