The celebration of International Women’s Day in Karashen community (Tegh) of Syunik region marked the launch of the 2nd phase of the “EU 4 Gender Equality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence” programme. The event, held at Karashen school, brought together key stakeholders and members of the community to commemorate the progress made in advancing gender equality and to discuss further actions to address gender stereotypes.

Davit Ghulunts, Head of Tegh Community, welcomed the event and stressed the importance of engaging communities in the regions. “This is a great opportunity to discuss the ways of creating equal opportunities for all community members and participating in actions that advance equality in our society.”

“As we celebrate the launch of the 2nd phase of the “EU 4 Gender Equality” programme and International Women’s Day, it serves as a reminder of the vital importance of advancing equality. Empowering women doesn’t just benefit women – it benefits families, communities, and our whole world. Women are crucial drivers of development and social change, so investing in them, especially those facing challenges, is an investment in a better future for everyone,” highlighted Tsovinar Harutyunyan, Head of Office, UNFPA Armenia, in her welcoming speech.

During the event, UNFPA Armenia and the “EU 4 Gender Equality” programme donated books to the Karashen school library.

“As we move into the second phase of this programme, our primary focus is engaging community members in initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and preventing violence. In Armenia, we plan to use innovative methodologies that not only sensitize people to the issue but also help them understand the causes and consequences of violence against women and girls,” said Olga Azatyan, Project Analyst, UN Women in Armenia.

The event also featured the “Girls’ Power” session, showcasing the inspiring stories of four young girls from Karashen, highlighting their dreams and resilience in the face of challenges.

During this session, one of the participating girls, 20-year-old future programmer Armine Lalayan, said she chose her profession guided by her great interest in computers and technology since childhood. “I have chosen this profession to break the stereotype that only boys are involved in programming. I strive to study very well because I dream of opening an IT club in our village and creating better opportunities for my peers. My biggest dream is peace, but I also hope that the young people in our community will be more active and that many programs will be initiated to give them the opportunity to succeed.”

“Meeting after 100 years” performance by the Nairyan Vocal Ensemble, which portrayed the famous Armenian women of the 19th century and their journey towards empowerment, concluded the event.

The International Women’s Day celebration in Karashen was part of the “EU 4 Gender Equality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence” programme, funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by UN Women and UNFPA in six EaP countries. The event was also supported by the UN Department of Global Communications in Armenia. 

This publication is produced in the framework of the second phase of the “EU 4 Gender Equality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence" programme (phase 2), funded by the European Union, implemented jointly by UN Women and UNFPA.

Its content is the sole responsibility of UN Women and UNFPA and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.