Armenia

Armenia Country Gender Assessmentmechanism for a gender expert examination of socioeconomic programs and projects.” 15Likewise, it anticipates the integration of gender consideration into planning processes andthe gradual “application of gender budgeting at various stages of the budgetary cycle.” 1624. The plan articulates state policy, but it does not designate implementing agencies,detail a budget, or outline how progress will be measured. A 2011 annual report on theplan’s implementation indicated that several activities were either unfunded or financed byinternational organizations. 17 Some experts contend that the declarative nature of the planmeans that it has not resulted in many clear actions to eliminate gender disparities.2. National Mechanisms25. To date, the government agencies tasked with implementing the gender policyconcept paper have been based on structures created to address women’s issues only.Operationally, the Department of Family, Women and Children’s Issues within theMinistry of Labor and Social Affairs is the key government agency addressing genderconcerns. Its mandate includes studying gender issues, developing state programs, andcoordinating and monitoring their implementation. 18 The department has been active indeveloping government decrees and draft legislation on such issues as social protection forwomen and domestic violence, and it serves as a co-chair of the United Nations GenderTheme Group (GTG). Still, respondents to this assessment noted that the department’scapacity is limited in the work it can undertake and its ability to coordinate the work ofother ministries. It has a very small staff and lacks high-level support. Further, other lineministries do not have staff dedicated to gender issues, such as gender focal points, withwhom the department could readily cooperate.26. The Council on Women’s Affairs, established in 2000 and reorganized in 2009,is an interagency consultative body under the Office of the Prime Minister. It aims toenhance women’s status in all spheres and to provide equal opportunities to men andwomen. Council members are prominent women from the three branches of government,the business community, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and internationalorganizations. The council is not permanently staffed, however, and the Ministry of Laborand Social Affairs provides its secretariat functions. Council meetings cover variousgender-related topics in support of the Prime Minister’s initiatives such as prizes awardedto rural and urban communities for gender sensitivity. Experts contend that the Councilon Women’s Affairs lacks a strategic focus, and a range of issues are discussed but notprioritized (e.g., a meeting occurred in which sex-selective abortion and prizes for femalejournalists were given equal attention). As of mid-2014, the council was reviewing ways toenhance its effectiveness and improve its capacity to function as a permanent departmentunder the Prime Minister, within the context of developing a national mechanism ongender equality in Armenia. 1915 Ibid., p. 2.16 Ibid.17 Government of Armenia. Councils. http://www.gov.am/en/councils/reports/5/18 Government of Armenia. 2014. National Review of the Republic of Armenia on Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform forAction (1995) and the Outcomes of the Twenty-Third Special Session of the General Assembly (2000) in the Context of the Twentieth Anniversaryof the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 2015. Yerevan. p. 2.19 Government of Armenia. 2014. Meeting Held on Enhancement of Effectiveness of Prime Minister-Affiliated Women’s Council. 16 July. http://www.gov.am/en/news/item/7435/8