13:34, 26 June 2004

70% of the unemployed in Armenia are women

The Republican Women's Council has arranged a roundtable to discuss social and legal problems connected with the state of women. Participants in the discussion pointed out that 60% of women graduated from the institutes of higher education. However 70% of the unemployed officially registered in Armenia are women. These figures show there is no equality of rights between the men and the women proclaimed in the Constitution of Armenia, said Chairwoman of the Republican Women's Council Nora Akopian. She mentioned the necessity to put into practice the 2004-2010 national program to increase women's role in the Armenian society, which has been approved by the Armenian government this year. The program is expected to be implemented by the Armenian government jointly with international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Stressing the importance of cooperation between the media and NGOs for the cause of carrying out the national program to improve the state of women in Armenia, the Republic Women's Council conducted a competition for young journalists covering women's problems.

Author: Ashot Ter-Grigorian, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot