The Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) strongly condemns the attacks directed at the women human rights defenders working at the Armenian NGO "Society Without Violence". We received news today from Society Without Violence that on April 15, their round table event on gender was violently disrupted by a number of neo-nationalist extremist group members.
On a worldwide scale, women human rights activists are threatened by religious and nationalist fundamentalists aiming to undermine the gender equality movement. Women's local initiatives for gender equality, reconciliation and co-existence are often branded as going against the norms of the society, and as unpatriotic.
The events happening in Armenia is yet another shocking example of these worrying developments.
Many women's rights organizations stand for a just, equal and nonviolent society. Women human rights defenders should be able to conduct their work without being dehumanized and without the fear of verbal and physical attack. State and non-state actors need to ensure that women human rights advocates can exercise their work and beliefs free of persecution and fear.
The Women Peacemakers Program stands in solidarity with Society Without Violence in Armenia.
Please read the statement of Society Against Violence below.
Today, on April 15, at 10:45 to 13:00 “Society Without Violence” NGO, Armenia was organizing a Round Table entitled “Gender Component Integration into Social Science subject”. The aim of the Round Table was to officially present the Recommendation Package on Gender Component Integration into Social Science subject developed by “Society Without Violence” NGO as a result of 6 round tables with 140 relevant experts from the field in 2012-2014. Taking into account the recent threats and attacks on women’s rights organizations in Armenia, Society Without Violence included, the organization decided that the event will be for limited number of professionals from the field and unbiased mass media, so official invitations were sent in prior and a confirmation was required.
However, even though the event was closed, number of neo-nationalist extremist group members got information about the event and came to disturb it with posters saying “No to anti-family propaganda”, “Homo-fascism will not pass” etc.
They tried to enter the room, but the organization team members’ required to check whether they have been registered to the event. Since they were not, they were rejected to enter. One of the most troublemakers was Khachik Stamboltsyan – the head of “Christians against People's Numeration” NGO and “Mkhitarich” foundation.
What happened next is that the extremists started to verbally attack the organization members and offend them. There were even some attempts to use physical force.Some of mass media which were not invited neither but came, started to blame and offend SWV and film the whole process by their cameras. The Hotel Security was called to come to support. One of the hotel security guards came to help and 4-5 extremists pushed him outside the hotel. Mass media reported that SWV initiated the violent attacks while the group members were calling support themselves.
Moreover, some state official representatives and MPs made the situation even worse and blamed SWV for not allowing the troublemakers to enter the room.
SWV was obliged to call the Police and fortunately Police officers were very helpful. However, some of the round table invitees were not supportive in such situation which was very discouraging.
This statement comes to prove that the situation in Armenia in terms of awareness level on gender issues and growing extremism is worsening. Women’s rights activists are not protected and experience constant violence and attacks in Armenia.
“Society Without Violence” NGO
For more information, visit their website.
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