86 percents would not tolerate

Most Armenians do not accept to have homosexual neighbors.
According to the Women’s Resource Center when the question ‘what would you do if your neighbor is homosexual?”was asked, 86% of the respondents answered that , they would not tolerate it. Anush Poghosian, the Centers for sexual and reproductive health issues states that a few years ago the intolerance towards homosexuality was 100%.
She continues to say: “It is normal that many of us have stereotypes. But can’t they change by reading, studying, and observing? It is encouraging that a small percentage of the population has become aware of people having the right to be as they are.”
The director of PINK Information Center, Mamikon Hovsapyan says lately, a great number of people asked him about homosexuality. According to him, the interest grew since December, when Armenia joined the United Nations statement for the protection of homosexuals. Hovsepyan states: “The basic confusion when discussing homosexuals is the belief that they are prostitutes wearing women's clothing and spreading sexually transmitted infections.” Hovsepyan wants to convince that on the exterior most homosexuals do not differ from other people. As for sexually transmitted infections, they are also spread by people who have non-homosexual orientation.
The coordinator of organization, Lilit Khorenyan believes that even the high officials of this country have erroneous ideas. When asked to give their views about homosexuality they respond by saying "It's a sickness. Go to Holland, it's the newest fashion there. We have entered the European Union and the newspapers are using homophobic phrases".
Mamikon Hovsepyan declares although there seems to be no apparent problems in Armenia, legal or otherwise, in regards to homosexuals, abuse and violence are current happenings especially during their military service. He also points out that is equally hurtful when the rights of individuals are invaded when their personal information, such as their names and photos, is made public, an event that occurred recently when a local paper printed an article about Armenian lesbians causing much commotion.

source: A1+

Burying the Red Apple

Armenia celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 in pretty much the same way it always does. As a patriarchal society, women are expected to dress up and men present them with flowers. Forget talk about women’s rights and equality, although one small group of activists from Armenia and the Diaspora had other ideas. Instead of observing the day in the traditional way, they were going to hand out leaflets informing women of their rights in a country where domestic violence remains a problem and patriarchy is the norm. Afterwards, the group was going to bury the “red apple.”

Known locally as "garmir khndzor," the tradition is perhaps one of Armenia’s most controversial. Referring to the virginal bloodstains left by a bride on her wedding night, challenging the custom remains somewhat of a taboo. Although many families instead present an actual red apple rather than hang out stained bed linen for all to see, the tradition is still observed in some form. Simply put, most Armenian men expect to marry a virgin and double standards governing gender and sexuality in the country.

Recently, an MP from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, 35-year-old Karen Avagyan, even publicly stated that he would never marry a woman who wasn’t a virgin, and he is not alone. Most Armenian men are believed to feel the same, and many Armenian women comply. For this reason, the Women's Resource Center of Armenia, WOW, Utopiana and other NGOs decided to stage their march. Although initially planned as a mock funeral for the “red apple,” plans appear to have been changed at the last moment, perhaps because of local sensitivities.

Instead, the organizers issued a press release stating that their message was not that it was wrong to be a virgin, but that it was a matter of individual choice and not one to be dictated by society. The mock burial was later staged in a private event at the Women’s Resource Center.

Even so, the day was not without its incidents. A group of pro-government bloggers, for example, turned up to mock the event. Indeed, at one stage they effectively disrupted the march by shouting out slogans such as “Struggle, struggle, until sex,” a direct play on that used by the extra-parliamentary opposition (“Struggle, struggle, until the end”) during last year’s disputed presidential election. One even said that he believed such marches should be illegal. “Let them march and the next thing you know, narcotics addicts will want to stage their own demonstrations too,” he said.

Equating narcotics use to women’s rights was a little strange, I pointed out, but he remained unconvinced. “It’s not about women’s rights,” he responded. “It’s about destroying Armenian culture and tradition.”

As if such an attitude wasn’t enough, a police van blocked the path of the demonstrators a few minutes later with officers demanding to know why people were marching. Although the law explicitly states that no authorization is required for rallies if the number of participants is less than 100, the authorities are obviously nervous about the post-election situation in the country. After speaking to the organizers, the march was allowed to continue with a plain clothes policeman walking alongside about 30 women and a few male supporters.

That is, until the march hit the central Moscow Cinema where another group of policemen told the marchers they could not continue on to Republic Square. True, permission was eventually given, but there is no basis in law for their actions, and the police riot van and policemen that had been called in to follow the demonstration was just a little too much. It was, after all, International Women’s Day.

On the other hand, the day illustrated how tradition and patriarchal attitudes are slow to die out in countries such as Armenia. Basically, if anyone is expecting a female liberation movement, let alone a sexual revolution, to occur anytime soon, well, don’t hold your breath. Meanwhile, one small group of activists tried to change something and educate the population that International Women’s Day should be more than about simply handing out flowers.

As one male observer from the Diaspora commented sarcastically, “the men can give presents today, and continue to beat and cheat on their wives tomorrow…”

source: Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009

Making the ribbon

First time in Armenia people were ready to make the Red Ribbon with their faces, to be open for society. This poster we used for the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

NGO exhibition in Gyumri

Non-profit organization exhibition-conference took place on January 18 at the Youth Center of Gyumri. PINK Armenia and Women’s Resource Center also participated in that event from Yerevan, presenting our mission and partnership with Gyumri. Real People, Real World NGO couldn’t take part but we presented their organization as well as their new Center in Gyumri.

First time we distributed our new booklets and flyers during this event.

After the exhibition, representatives from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affair, US Embassy and Eurasian Partnership Foundation presented their projects in Armenia, suggesting participants to apply for grants.

The next section of presentation was provided to local NGOs to present their mission in Armenia and connection with Shirak region. This section was opened by PINK Armenia, where we first time show our own videos and socials ads. Then we talk about our collaboration with NGOs dealing with sexual health and we presented our best partner – Women’s Resource Center. All the participants liked their ideas and activities, also several NGOs were ready to start their cooperation with them. The most exciting point for us was presentation of the World AIDS Day 2008 project, where we show small videos and the main poster, which show the benefits of our partnership.

In the end of event organizers conducted thematic discussion by 3 topics, suggested by all the participants: “sexual health and safe sex behavior”, “youth cultural, educational and intellectual possibilities” and “historical and cultural memorials”.

Event was concluded successfully. Participants left the event with hopes to gather more often and make the Youth Center more active and useful. For all of this we want to thank Mr. Sergey Gabrielyan for conducted this annual event.

World AIDS Day 2008 Celebrated in Yerevan, Armenia

On December 1 an event dedicated to World AIDS Day took place in Yerevan. The event was organized by Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK Armenia), Women Resource Center, Armenian Red Cross Society, Real World Real People and Youth Culture non-governmental organizations. At 4:00 p.m. people gathered near the Vardan Mamikonyan statue before starting the march. During the march volunteers of the organizations distributed flyers and information materials to people; some volunteers were holding posters with expressions of the day. “Helsinki Association” NGO, whose mission is human rights protection, also participated in the march. The participants were wearing white T-shirts with red ribbons and the “Stop AIDS, Keep Promise” slogan printed on them, which were especially made for World AIDS Day. Letters were delivered to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Science and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan while marching to the Republic Square. During the march random people joined the procession and afterwards the group of 80 people walked to the “Avangard” club, where the World AIDS Day event took place.
Videos, social clips and live shows, as well as the “God’s Children of America”, were presented during the event. Also the event organizers presented the mission of each organization, then a message to the Armenian government was read. The main request of the organizations from the government was a strengthening of participation in solving AIDS issues.
Letters to Santa Claus from children with HIV were read during the event. These children live in bad social conditions, which creates such psychological difficulties as anxiety, isolation and low self-esteem.
These children dream about Santa Claus visiting them as well as their friends, and write letters to him hoping in their hearts that their wishes will come true this year.
During the event money was collected and granted to “Real World Real People” NGO to buy New Year presents for children living with HIV.
The event was continued with a rock concert performed by the bands “PINCET”, “INAD”, and “LSD”. At the end of the event some youngsters presented different posters on the stage with messages reading that all people are equal regardless of our desires, jobs, health conditions, ages, sex and sexual orientations.
During the event brochures about HIV/AIDS, its transmission and prevention and general health as well as condoms were provided by volunteers.

• The organizers highly appreciated the work of the volunteers, participants, journalists, friends and supporting organizations.

ՁԻԱՀ-ի Համաշխարհային Օր 2008-ը նշվեց Երևանում, Հայաստան

Դեկտեմբերի 1-ին Երևանում տեղի ունեցավ միջոցառում նվիրված ՁԻԱՀ-ի Համաշխարհային Օրվան: Միջոցառման կազմակերպիչներն էին Հանրային Տեղեկատվություն և Գիտելիքի Կարիք (ՓԻՆՔ Արմենիա), Կանանց Ռեսուրսային Կենտրոն, Հայկական Կարմիր Խաչի Ընկերություն, Իրական Աշխարհ - Իրական Մարդիկ և Երիտասարդական Մշակութային հասարակական կազմակերպությունները: Ժամը 16.00-ին Վարդան Մամիկոնյանի արձանի մոտից սկսվեց երթը, որի ընթացքում կազմակերպությունների կամավորները անցորդներին բաժանում էին թռուցիկներ և տեղեկատու նյութեր, իսկ ոմանք էլ բարձր պահել էին այդ օրվան նվիրված արտահայտություններով պաստառներ: Երթին մասնակցում էր նաև մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպանությամբ զբաղվող «Հելսինկյան Ասոցիացիա» ՀԿ-ն: Մասնակիցները հագել էին հատուկ ՁԻԱՀ-ի Համաշխարհային Օրվա կապակցությամբ պատրաստված սպիտակ շապիկներ, որոնց վրա կարմիր ժապավենի կողքին գրված էր «Կանգեցրեք ՁԻԱՀ-ը, կատարեք խոստումը» խորագիրը: Երթը շարժվեց դեպի Հանրապետության հրապարակ, որի ընթացքում նամակներ հանձնվեցին ՀՀ Առողջապահության նախարարությանը, Կրթության և Գիտության նախարարությանը և վարչապետ Տիգրան Սարգսյանին: Երթի ընթացքում մասնակիցներին միացան նաև պատահական անցորդներ, այնուհետև մոտ 80 հոգուց բաղկացած խումբը ուղևորվեց դեպի Ավանգարդ ակումբ, որտեղ էլ կայացավ ՁԻԱՀ-ի Համաշխարհային Օրվան նվիրված միջոցառումը:
Միջոցառման ընթացքում ցուցադրվեցին օրվան նվիրված տեսանյութեր, սոցիալական հոլովակներ և կենդանի ներկայացումներ, ինչպես նաև «Ամերիկայի Աստծո զավակները» ֆիլմը: Միջոցառման ընթացքում ելույթ ունեցան կազմակերպիչները` ներկայացնելով յուրաքանչյուր կազմակերպության գործունեությունը և առաքելությունը, ապա ընթերցվեց ուղերձը Հայաստանի Հանրապետության կառավարությանը: Կազմակերպությունների հիմնական պահանջն էր, որպեսզի կառավարությունը ավելի շատ ուշադրություն և ժամանակ հատկացնի ՁԻԱՀ-ին առնչվող հարցերին:
Միջոցառման ընթացքում ընթերցվեցին ՄԻԱՎ-ով ապրող երեխաների նամակները` ուղղված Ձմեռ Պապիկին: Երեխաներն ապրում են անբարենպաստ, ոմանք էլ ծանր սոցիալական պայմաններում: Անժխտելի է այն հանգամանքը, որ սոցիալական անբարենպաստ վիճակը ծնում է հոգեբանական մեծ խնդիրներ` ճնշվածություն, մեկուսացում, ցածր ինքնագնահատական:
Երեխաներն իրենց երազանքներում պատկերացնում են, թե ինչպես նրանց էլ, բոլոր իրենց հասակակիցների նման, հյուր կգա Ձմեռ Պապը, և ջանասիրաբար ցանկություններով լի նամակ են գրում նրան` սրտի մի անկյունում փափագելով, որ այս տարի կիրականանա իրենց երազանքը:
Միջոցառման ժամանակ տեղի ունեցավ նաև դրամահավաք և ողջ հասույթը փոխանցվեց «Իրական Աշխարհ - Իրական Մարդիկ» ՀԿ-ին` ՄԻԱՎ-ով ապրող երեխաներին ամանորյա նվերներ գնելու նպատակով:
Միջոցառումը շարունակվեց ռոք համերգով, որի ժամանակ ելույթ ունեցան «PINCET», «INAD» և «LSD» ռոք խմբերը: Իսկ ավարտին մի քանի երիտասարդներ բեմ բարձրացան տարբեր ցուցանակներով` նշելով, որ բոլորս հավասար ենք` անկախ մեր ցանկություններից, աշխատանքից, առողջական վիճակից, տարիքից, սեռից ու սեռական կողմորոշումից:
Ամբողջ միջոցառման ընթացքում երիտասարդները կարող էին մոտենալ տաղավարներին, որտեղ կամավորների օգնությամբ բաժանվում էին ՄԻԱՎ/ՁԻԱՀ-ի, դրանց տարածման և կանխարգելման, առողջ ապրելակերպի մասին գրքույկներ և պահպանակներ: Տաղավարների մոտ կանգնած կամավորները դրանք բաժանում էին մասնակիցներին:

• Կազմակերպիչները, բարձր գնահատելով բոլոր կամավորների, մասնակիցների, լրագրողների, ընկերների և աջակցող մյուս կազմակերպությունների աշխատանքը, շնորհակալություն են հայտնում միջոցառումն իրականացնելու և տեղեկատվությունը սփռելու համար:

relevant links:
World AIDS campaign
Global voices online
Unzipped: Gay Armenia
A1+
One world blogs

World AIDS Day 2008

Dear friends PINK Armenia, Women's Resource Center, Real World Real People, Red Cross Armenia with Youth Cultural organization and other NGOs are organizing the World AIDS Day event in Yerevan.

From November 28 till December 1 we'll work day and night, 82 hours. If you want to join us and help during the preparational works, please call +374 10 556 946 or +374 91 232 708.

We promise to make the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day unforgetful.

*********************
Program: December 1st

December 1st, at 4pm we will gather near the Vardan Mamikonyan statue and start our march till Republic Square, and after all will go to Pushkin street, Avangard folk-club (Pushkin 3a) to start the main event at 5pm, which includes punk underground rock concert, presentations, films and live shows. During the event we'll distribute different information materials on HIV issues and condoms.

Rock bands: PINCET, INAD, LSD
presentation, social advertisements and movies about HIV, transmission, facts, discrimination are provided by local NGOs
live shows: NGO volunteers

The radio program "Lyunse" of Public Radio will broadcast a special program on HIV awareness issues, including interviews with NGO representatives.

Be with us and...

STOP AIDS. KEEP THE PROMISE

Capacity Building for Armenia’s health sector

This August, in collaboration with the Yerevan Women’s Resource Center, Lory Hovsepian (Ph.D. candidate in Public Health, Université de Montréal) and Apraham Niziblian (Lobbying and advocacy specialist) will facilitate a three-day conference, supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) entitled: Capacity Building for Armenia’s health sector. This project will focus on developing community capacity in Armenia’s health sector, specifically regarding the promotion of sexual/reproductive health and the prevention of HIV/sexually transmitted infections in Armenia. Community organizations working in Armenia on these issues have been invited, with the hopes of knowledge transfer and capacity building, culminating in the creation of a collaborative effort to maximize effective promotion of key sexual health issues within the Armenian public.
In recent years, our experience with various civil society groups working in the Armenian health and social sectors has suggested that although there are many community organizations working either in the realm of sexual health or with vulnerable groups, these organizations often work independently and collaborative efforts on common projects are rare. Moreover, prior fieldwork and needs analysis have indicated need for common spaces where these organizations can come together, share experiences and expertise, learn from each other, all in a collaborative spirit. This situation has led us to believe that there is a need to create such a space and to facilitate concerted action in the area of sexual health. This common space will allow for needs analysis and knowledge transfer, following which it is our hope that the organizations present will pursue the steps, and that the process will culminate into the possible creation of a form of partnership – whether it be in the form of a consortium, coalition, or ‘table de concentration’ (the outcome, of course, will be left to the actors/stakeholders involved, reflecting their needs/interests in such collaborative efforts). Such collaborative efforts can only be beneficial to the attainment of the objectives set forth in the realm of sexual health in Armenia.

Invitation
Given our belief that it is through concerted, intersectoral and multi-level action that change can be brought forth, such a process cannot be successful without the inclusion and implication of all representatives of the health sector, including representatives of academic, health and governmental institutions. In this respect, we invite "PINK" NGO to participate in this conference. It is through the collaborative effort of organizations such as "PINK Armenia" that we can create the needed concerted effort in the Armenian health sector. In an effort to be as inclusive as possible, we would like to request your help in reaching out to other organizations that may be interested in participating in this conference.
The conference will consist of three half-day workshop sessions between August 12 and 15, 2008. The August 15 session will be followed by a networking event. During this event, representatives from various groups and institutions (e.g. Ministry of Health, health sector practitioners and researchers) will be invited to discuss possible venues of collaboration in the short and long term.