On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, representatives of the UN, US, EU, OSCE and Council of Europe Office in Yerevan welcome the 22 November statement of the Women’s Council chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia reaffirming the Government’s commitment to gender equality.

We highly commend the determination of the Women’s Council to adhere to Armenia’s international commitments on gender equality, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Types of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to which Armenia is signatory since 1993.  We also encourage Armenia’s signature of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

Furthermore we also support the Council’s call to ensure the effective implementation of the law “On Provision of Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Women and Men.”

We also support the call to the law-enforcement bodies to undertake all the necessary measures to prevent and prosecute intimidation of individuals and organizations working on gender equality and women's rights.

We acknowledge the Armenian Government’s efforts towards harmonization of domestic legislation with international standards, as well as implementation of provisions and commitments of international legal documents to which Armenia is party.       

Gender equality is a cornerstone of democratic governance and sustainable development.  We reiterate our willingness and determination to support the Government of Armenia in the further implementation of legislation on non-discrimination and equal rights and opportunities of men and women.