“WITHOUT WOMEN THERE IS NO LASTING PEACE”

On October 31, 2000 the UN Security Council resolution no.1325 was adopted. This is the first resolution, which determines the important role of women in preventing and resolving conflicts.

The other day in the business center “Erebouni Plaza” three-day conference on the theme “If there are no women, there is no stable world” was held, on which the possibilities of application of UN Security Council Resolution no.1325 in Armenia was discussed. An address speech was given by the Ambassador of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Armenia, Judith Margaret Farnworth. Organizers of the conference – NGOs “Armenian Committee of Helsinki Civil Assembly” and “Democracy Today” talked about the needs and concerns of women living in border villages.

As is known, the most important principle of the resolution no.1325 – is the involvement of women in different spheres. In this regard, the senior assistant to the Minister of Defence, Chief of the Center for Human Rights and strengthening ethics, doctor of political science, expert Alexander Avetsiyan in his speech noted that in the framework of cooperation with NATO, there is a format of implementation of resolution 1325, which has been repeatedly included in the Individual Partnership Action Plan between Armenia and NATO. On this issue we get a lot of support from the UN Population Fund, with which have a formal partnership since 2014.

The results of an opinion poll showed that the public has a positive attitude to women soldiers. With regard to compulsory military service for women, the majority of respondents (mostly adult part of the population) said that women should not be involved in compulsory military service.

This year, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund, the Ministry of Defence has developed a directive to protect the rights of women in the defense sphere and ensuring equal opportunities.

RA Defense Ministry is also developing a new textbook, code-named “Woman and the army.”

Qnar Tadevosyan