If you judge a book by its cover you might miss an amazing story…

August 1, 2018

Christine Piruzyan

The Ministry of Emergency Situations has spent considerable time and resources in the last few years to implement more inclusive and gender responsive projects. It has teamed up with UNDP in Armenia and its own structures in disaster risk reduction - such as the Crisis Management Academy - to help improve the environment and create enabling capacities for women and men with disabilities. The life of people with disabilities is not a picturesque one in Armenia. According to official statistics the unemployment rate among people with disability is over 90%. Women and men with disabilities mostly stay home in Armenia. In very rare cases one can see women or men with disabilities working in public organizations. Beyond strong socio-economic implications, this situation often affects them emotionally, pushing to the brink of suicide.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations looked into this issue with the aim to address needs and priorities of women and men with disabilities. The change processes included renovation of the building addressing different needs of women and men with disabilities and creating enabling environment for them to study, work, and have career advancement. Other changes included installation of ramps for wheelchairs that gave them access to almost all parts of the building, special toilets and separate rest areas for men and women, adjusted sport programmes and created environment where women, included with disabilities, now take sport classes along with men.

This programme started in 2013. Christine Piruzyan and Sevak Mkhitaryan were one of the firsts who applied. Before learning about this opportunity Christine had been many years intensively looking for a job. After applying to the programme, Christine was invited for an interview and soon became a member of a very friendly and supportive team at the National Crisis Management Center. Christine was able to push aside her feeling of depression and re-discover harmony in her life. She integrated well into the working environment; her self-esteem rose. Later Christine signed up to the Pan Armenian Beauty Awards of women with disabilities and won, breaking the limitations and stereotypes of the society.

Sevak found employment after being helped by several non-governmental agencies supporting people with disabilities. They informed him about this new programme at the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Sevak became an invaluable team member. Both Sevak and Christine assisting a lot through the renovation and adjustment processes consulting on different needs and priorities of women and men with disabilities, which resulted in creating a workplace environment that is comfortable for everyone.

At present, after 5 years from the start of this programme, 37 people with disabilties - 13 women and 24 men work in the area of disaster risk management; 15 of them in the regional offices of the Ministry. Sevak is now the Head of Information Department at Ministry of Emergency Situations’ National Center of Technical Safety. Two more women and four men with disabilities have been promoted from the start of their employment in the Ministry to the higher ranking posts.

In 2017, the gender mainstreaming work of the Ministry continued. Within DRR National Platform, the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) tool was introduced addressing women's special needs, incorporating women's knowledge, experience and skills into disaster preparedness, response and recovery policies and programme. 313 medical and rescue staff - 163 men and 150 women – from six cities of Syunik Region of Armenia (Kapan, Meghri, Agarak, Goris, Sisian, Kajaran) were trained and certified in reproductive health and child and mother safety during the emergency preparedness and response. The training was organized by joint effort of UNDP, UNFPA, Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform within the frame of DGECHO funded “Strengthening community based resilience and environmental emergency preparedness capacities in Armenia” project. In 2018, this training programme was replicated in Tavush Region of Armenia with additional 263 representatives of health and rescue services - 165 men and 98 women - trained and certified.