World has many stories about inequality, injustice, hatred. It also has stories about how people would restore or seed justice, equality and love. Women were and still are one huge social group that fall victim to injustice, stigma, irrational fear and stereotypes. Yet the oppressed sometimes can be very bright, intelligent and can unearth or …

“Women’s Resource Center” NGO was founded in 2003 by young women from Armenia and the Diaspora. The organization is the first resource center in post-Soviet Armenia that works with women and for women. The mission of the organization is the creation of a safe environment for Armenian women, provision of necessary resources for their personal …

Born in March 19, 1960. In 1981 she graduated from the Faculty of Biology of YSU, received a degree for biological sciences candidate in 1990, graduated from the American University of Armenia and received a master’s degree in political science and international relations in 1996, in 2000 she received a master’s degree on international development …

A condom is a thin rubber covering that a man wears on his penis during the sexual intercourse in order to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant or to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Things you probably didn’t know about condoms Condoms have non-sexual use as well, such as creating waterproof microphones. There also …

First of December is World AIDS Day. We may assume that AIDS is something remote, foreign that won’t tap on our windows, won’t knock our doors. Even today our favorite stars, though physically gone, make us happy, bring pleasure into our lives, give strength and inspire us. Let us remember our idols, the faves of …

I was taught in school that there existed male and female sexes only in this world. And how one shall be called if he/she simultaneously belongs to both male and female sexes or does not belong to neither of them? But is it even true that such human beings really exist? Or it is just a …

During September-October 2012 “Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO implemented LGBT rights monitoring. The monitoring aims to study the situation of LGBT rights in Armenia focusing on the last two years. This monitoring is intended to supplement two reasearches conducted earlier by “Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO, which were implemented in the …

What do you do to break the silence? The day of silence, which was first held in 1996 in Virginia, USA became the most widespread event ever organized by students.  It was meant to address the issues of discrimination and intolerance all throughout educational institutions, in an effort to establish safe educational institutions where people …

The “Women’s Resource Center” has undertaken a draft to make improvements and amendments in articles 138-142 of the 18th section of the Criminal Code of RA (Crimes against sexual immunity and sexual freedom) and has presented it to the legislator. Demands for improvements to the legislation are based on a recent court hearing of a …

Since the early days of HIV epidemics in western countries, in the understanding of the society an association between AIDS and homosexuality was drawn: the first cases of HIV were recorded among gays in West and USSR. At first the doctors suggested naming the disease GRID – “gay-related immune deficiency” – the papers were writing …

You have the right not to suffer from pain, as uncured pain is legalized torture. According to World Health Organization statistics of September 2008 nearly 80 percent of the world’s population has little or no opportunity for receiving necessary medical treatment and for getting rid of medium and severe pain. The statistics also clearly show …

Our roles There are mostly two biological sexes in the nature: male and female. On the basis of these, many societies have come up with two social sexes namely gender: man and woman. You are not born a man, but become one, the saying claims. The same could be said about women. Gender refers to …

A huge Soviet era is gone now. It was an era when homogeneousness was propagated, when there was designed similar culture for all brotherly republics. The same way politics was formed, which naturally was affecting the social sphere. After the collapse of USSR – boom! The state has taken the path leading towards democracy, freedom, …

Barev to all readers! For a long time, I’ve been curious to dig deeper in understanding what is behind the Armenian values, attitudes and opinions. Being puzzled about it all, I decided to spend 19 days at PINK, which offered me the most extraordinary insight to answer my questions. However shocking my findings were, Armenian …

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 worldwide. United Nations has officially made it a women holiday as well, and in various states, it is being celebrated as a national holiday. March 8 is considered to be an internationally recognized day of women, celebrating their advancements and achievements in various spheres (political, economic or …

Introduction One of the most vivid differences between Yerevan State Linguistic University (YSLU) (named after V. Brusov) and other universities is the extreme imbalance between the numbers of male and female students. According to May of 2011 data, only 4.2% of the 4000 students (168 in total) studying were males. This of course makes one …

The Women’s Rights Center (WRC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that has been operating since 1997. The organization consists of dedicated individuals who have joined their efforts in accomplishing and reaching shared goals. The main goals include preventing domestic violence against women and children and protecting women’s reproductive and sexual health and rights. Based on …

“Millions of people in Europe are discriminated, stigmatised and even victims of violence because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.” Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg. “They cannot fully enjoy their universal human rights. There is an urgent need for all European governments to remedy this situation and take policy and …

Egypt was always attractive and magnetic. One of the oldest civilizations that survived for millenia and collapsed because of its own conservative prejudices and traditions, it still fascinates and enchants many by its magical charm and mystic culture. Interesting are the articles of “New York Times” and “The Sunday Times”: It was back in 1964, …

Only 9 km away from Armenian-Azerbaijani northern border, women of Berd town create hand-made, eco-friendly teddy bears that are already known overseas as well, with the brand “Berd” which have become not only the symbol of Berd in a short period of time, but also are the main source of income for many women and …

Arusik Mkrtchyan – more popular as DJ Vakcina – is one of the most famous, most stylish and bravest woman DJ in Armenia. In cooperation with world famous DJs, she organized massive club and open-air events both in Armenia and abroad. But apart from her main activities she is also engaged in active public life. …

The cases of domestic violence have become widely discussed recently in Armenia. Is the domestic violence a phenomenon, which emerged in our society in recent years or it has always been in our society? Actually, domestic violence, and especially violence against women in the family are phenomena that have always been in all societies, as …

Recently the word gender has entered the Armenian vocabulary. Before that there was only ser (meaning sex). The physical bodies of males and females and social roles of men and women were discussed using this same term. The two concepts have now been separated for some important reasons, which this article will explore. Until about …

World AIDS Day – this is the day when the world wears red ribbon and takes actions to stop AIDS. World AIDS Day in Armenia – this is the day when not all Armenians but at least several NGOs are raising the worldwide issue in the country. Since 2008 those NGOs work together, organize joint …

“Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO, being concerned with negative consequences of discriminatory and intolerant attitude toward LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people, has initiated studies and surveys. “We and our rights” is a sociological survey and legal analysis composed of two stages. It was possible to carry this research with financial support of Counterpart …

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health and welfare are basic human rights.  But until now the education of the population on the topics like health, healthcare, and human rights has been low, and …

Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO was created in 2007 by a group of young and enthusiastic civil society activists who aimed to establish an organization which would be dedicated to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, HIV and human rights protection. It is more popular in the mainstream public as PINK with its …

“I grew up in the accompaniment of Jazz melodies. My parents held differing values, which is why they brought me up a free thinker and a daring person, and – which is important – they taught me tolerance and respect toward people. I do the same by sowing respect, tolerance and freedom in my children.” …

Money has always been a pivotal aspect in man and woman relationships in a family.  For many years, these relationships have caused disagreements, conflicts as well as divorces between men and women. Even in European and American societies, where women have more liberty and are more inclined to start work earlier, women’s income is still …

When I’d read about the social movements taking place in various countries around the world, I couldn’t help but wonder about the events unfolding in my own homeland of Armenia and the progress it was making on a cultural and national level. Relying on online news sources that were saturated with sensationalism left me dissatisfied. …

We present passages from “Helsinki Association” 2010 report on human rights situation in Armenia. The report states one may unequivocally state that human rights and fundamental freedoms are violated in Armenia. In 2010, government of Armenia initiated series of legislative changes, in particular changes were made regarding freedom of speech and in the field of laws …

Until November 30, 2012 there were 206 new HIV cases registered in the RA, and the number is higher than during the past years. Generally, 30% of people living with HIV, 405 individuals, are women in Armenia. And in the whole world nearly half of all HIV-positive cases are already registered among women; as a …

Abortion, which comprise small portion of pregnancy interruptions, is often performed when an undesirable trait is observed in the fetus. Abortions are also often carried when pregnancy itself is conditioned by more than one undesirable circumstance. Undesirable traits may include: the unborn child is female and due to cultural factors the male child is more …

The HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection epidemic has today become a global crisis, and has become a barrier to the development of the Millennium Challenges. The protection of human rights of most at risk population toward HIV infection (injecting drug users, sex-workers and men having sex with men), as well as those who are living …

“Socioscope” Societal Research and Consultancy Center was founded in 2008 by a group of young social scientists. The aim of the organization is to promote the establishment of a solid human rights and democracy system in Armenia. To achieve the goal “Socioscope” organization carries out its activities through three main directions. First is the implementation …

As recently as October 2011, clinical trials of HIV vaccines have shown that it may indeed be possible to reduce HIV to minor infection status but it’s a bit premature for any big celebrations. Despite breakthroughs in research, the best way to protect oneself against HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections is still to …

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are as ancient as sexual relations. Nowadays there are various contradictory articles and materials on STIs which can confuse the reader. That is why we decided to have a short interview with venereologist Hovhannes Hovhannisyan from “Dermatology and STI MSC” of the RA Ministry of Health. The interview is introduced below. …

The founding director of “Women’s Support Center” NGO Maro Matosian first time came to Armenia with her family in 1991, after few months from RA declaration of independence. Mrs. Matosian came to Armenia with great energy and enthusiasm, with intention to do a good thing for her motherland, because, as she claimed, only here she …

Different expressions of violence including, but not limited to beating, intimidation, torture, oppression and humiliation have existed in Armenian families throughout time. However, the phenomenon behind domestic violence is a reoccurring one, not only throughout Armenian societies, but in countries all around the world. This poses another question: how does violence express itself and what …

We are two Swedish students from Lund University, Gender department who have been given the great opportunity to be interns at Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO for almost four months. Our time in Armenia has been full of impressions. Most of our time has been spent in Yerevan and we have gotten to …