The Efficiency Factor of Discussions
THE ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE FRAMES OF THE NA-CSO PLATFORM BASED ON THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
Which of the topics discussed within the frames of the Platform was the most effective?
Which of the proposals presented within the frames of the Platform turned into legislative initiatives and were adopted by the parliament?
I. Most effective discussions according to Platform participants
During the meetings organized within the frames of the Platform in 2019-2021, discussions were organized and proposals were presented on the following topics:
1
Reforms of the RA Election Code and the RA Law on Local Self-Government to enhance the participation of women in Local Government Authorities.
2
On gender mainstreaming of the RA Law on Political Parties.
3
On the improvement of legislative regulations for fighting domestic violence.
4
Current challenges of women's employment and accessibility of the labor market for women.
5
State programs concerning the improvement of the demographic situation as well as childcare.
6
Issues related to ensuring women’s reproductive health.
7
RA National Action Plan for the implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, peace, and security within the context of current challenges.
8
Women and the humanitarian crisis in Armenia: post-war challenges, and pandemic.
9
Beijing+25 – Armenia’s commitments, achievements, and challenges.
10
The education and professional training of women – Beijing+25 process.
11
Promoting the political participation of women.
12
The hate speech and sexism in the media: women are the target.
According to the opinion of the Platform participants, the following were the most effective topics:
According to the results of the survey on the operation of the Platform
II. The effectiveness of Platform proposals
As of May 30, 2021, the following results were recorded toward the implementation of the recommendations made within the frames of the Platform.
Thirteen proposals turned into legislative initiatives and were adopted.
Ten proposals have received other solutions or are in progress.
PLATFORM PROPOSALS THAT RECEIVED LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS
Labor Code
10.09.2019
The RA Draft Law on Making Amendments to the RA Labor Code on Prohibition of Age Discrimination in the Labor Market, authored by Deputy Tigran Urikhanyan, was adopted.
Through the recommendation of Platform participant members of parliament (MP), the RA Labor Code was supplemented with a new provision (3.1 article) on the Prohibition of Discrimination
03.10.2019
The Bill on Making Changes and Amendments to the RA Labor Code was adopted, which stipulates that if the same employer signs more than two contracts with the same employee it is considered an open-ended contract. The regulation applies to all subjects, regardless of gender, although in such cases women are more vulnerable. Authors: Narek Zeynalyan, Heriknaz Tigranyan, Lusine Badalyan.
04.12.2019
The legislative package authored by Narek Zeynalyan and Heriknaz Tigranyan, expanding the powers of the inspection authority – Draft Law on Making Changes and Amendments to the RA Code of Administrative Offenses, and Draft Law on Making Changes and Amendments to the RA Labor Code were adopted.
29.04.2020
The RA draft Amendmentsto the RA Labor and Administrative Offences Codes,submitted bythe Government, were adopted, given the need to resolve several problems that emerged during the state of emergency.
In particular, the Labor Code provides clarifications and definitions that make the employer-employee legal relationship simple during the epidemic. The concept of remote work was defined, and in case of feasibility to organize the work remotely, the possibility of paying full salary was established, which is extremely important for employees with children and for mothers who have to combine work and childcare.
16.09.2020
The draft law on Making Changes and Amendments to the RA Labor Codeon parental leave for the newborn's father, authored by Tsovinar Vardanyan, Sona Ghazaryan, Lusine Badalyan, Armen Pambukhchyan, and Narek Zeynalyan, was adopted. It will be called paternity leave and will allow the father, if desired, to take up to 5 working days paid leave at the employer's expense within 30 days after the birth of the child.
Benefits, demographic issues
20.05.2021
The draft law on Making Amendments to the Law on Temporary Disability and Maternity Benefits authored by Gevorg Papoyan and Heriknaz Tigranyan was adopted, which simplifies and clarifies the procedure for maternity benefits for cases when a mother was employed in different workplaces during the preceding 12 months of receiving the benefit. In that case, also, a mother will receive the amount due in the prescribed manner.
25.06.20
The RA Law on Making Changes and Amendments to the RA Law on State Benefits, submitted by the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, was adopted. It provides that in addition to doubling the amount of childcare allowance for having babies up to 2 years of age, unemployed women who are registered and de facto reside in the rural community for at least one year were granted a right to this benefit.
Other publications related to the topic
● The Government is increasing the amount of childbirth and childcare benefits
● What steps does the Government plan take to increase the birth rate?
● Positive changes in the procedure for providing maternity benefits
● The Parliamentary Committee rejected the petition to ban abortions / amended
● Will abortions be banned in Armenia?
● What steps does the Government plan take to increase the birth rate?
● Positive changes in the procedure for providing maternity benefits
● The Parliamentary Committee rejected the petition to ban abortions / amended
● Will abortions be banned in Armenia?
Electoral Code, parties
12.09.2019
The draft law on Making Amendments to RA Law on Local Self-Governmentauthored by Lena Nazaryan, according to which the publicity of the work of the Council of Elders is ensured, regardless of the number of population of the given community, was adopted.
18.06 2020
The draft Law on Making Changes and Amendments to the RA Electoral Code was adopted, according to which the elections of the Council of Elders in multi-settlement communities with more than 4000 voters will be held through the proportional electoral system. Therefore, during these elections, the gender quota stipulated by the Electoral Code, which requires at least a 30/70 proportion of candidates, will apply.
29.12.2020
The legislative package on Making Changes and Amendments to the Constitutional Law on Political Parties and related laws was adopted, which prescribes that the inclusion of women in the leadership of parties will be encouraged through financial mechanisms.
01.04.2021
The draft amendments to the Electoral Code were adopted, which offer to abolish the so-called "rating" or regional lists and adopt a simple proportional electoral system - closed party lists.
This provision was part of several proposals presented within the Platform to promote women's political participation.
Other publications related to the topic
Violence against women
10.10.2019
The RA Government decision was adopted on Establishing the Procedure for Centralized Registration of Domestic Violence cases.
Other publications related to the topic
Hate speech, sexism
16.07.2020
The RA draft law on Audiovisual Media was adopted. It constitutes a ban on the broadcasting of programs with gender discrimination or propaganda, the obligation of public broadcasters to provide consumers with programs aimed at promoting de facto equality between women and men and overcoming gender-based discrimination stereotypes, as well as the requirement to ensure gender-based representation in the state regulatory body.
Other publications related to the topic
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE ONGOING OR RECEIVED OTHER SOLUTIONS
1
The RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs uploaded the draft amendments to the RA Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence, Protection of Victims within the Family and Restoration of Peace in the Family for discussion on the unified portal (e-draft.am) for publication of legal acts. The Coalition to Stop Violence against Women NGO, a participant in the Platform, submitted proposals, some of which, however, were rejected during the discussion stage on the e-draft.am portal.
2
The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs submitted the RA draft law on Families with Many Children for public discussion. According to this draft, a family based in the Republic of Armenia is considered a family with many children if a married couple or the single parent in case of single-parent families gave birth to or adopted at least four children at the time of entry into force of the present law. It is important to note that children in the care of the social protection institutions (orphanages) or deprived of parental care are not considered for the purposes of this law.
3
The RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs approved the proposal submitted via the Platform to include the period spent for the care of children with disabilities and the elderly in the legal employment period. It was noted that the issue had been raised many times in inquiries addressed to the Ministry and there are currently discussions for resolving this issue through the development of the institution of personal assistants.
4
To make amendments to the Law on Trade Unions, a working group was established, within the frames of which the possibility of introducing Actio popularis is being discussed.
5
A new version of directing fines for violations of the Labor Code is in the discussion stage, which suggests that most of the funds generated from fining the employer be directed to the affected employee.
6
The RA Ministry of Education and Science circulated a draft on Making Amendments to the RA Labor Code, which allows working parents with children at preschool education centers to finish work at 17:00 if their work usually finishes at 18:00. Given the fact that the current schedule of working hours at preschool education centers create difficulties for parents of preschoolers, the General Education Department of Yerevan Municipality, per the recommendation of the Yerevan Council of Elders, decided to provide long-day care additional service at kindergartens thus allowing working parents to pick up their children after work till 19:00.
7
Recommendations were presented regarding the RA draft law on Making Changes and Amendments to the RA Labor Code.
8
Recommendations have been developed on gender mainstreaming in the RA Labor Code, 2021.
9
Recommendations packages were submitted for making amendments to the RA Electoral Code and RA Law on Political Parties.
10
A document on State programs for childcare support as well as programs aimed at improving the demographic situation was prepared highlighting the identified problems and recommended solutions.
