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Armenian Parliament Removes Controversial Equality Bill from Agenda

A draft law on equality between men and women resulted in a stormy debate in Armenia's National Assembly today. Authors of the bill ask that it be presented for discussion only after amendments have been made. During the discussion, co-author of the bill, Rule of Law (OEK) MP Hovhannes Margaryan said: "Replace [the word] gender with whatever you want, as long as it's a word that is proper for thousands of people with namus [sexual integrity, virtue]."

"Everyone knows that the law has given rise to misunderstanding. The word 'gender' in the law has given rise to misunderstanding. We have proposed to remove the word and replace it with 'sex' or another synonym, or there may be other proposals. The commission did not accept our proposal. I say this because we are all going to be responsible before thousands of people," said OEK MP Heghine Bisharyan. 

Heritage Party MP Alexander Arzoumanian countered, saying that the Human Rights Commission discussed the matter, there are proposals from both the Commission and the (Pan-Armenian) Parents' Committee, and they will reach a decision that will satisfy everyone. 

In the opinion of Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, or ARF-D) MP Armen Rustamyan, nothing is stopping the law from being placed on the agenda and then discussing proposals.

Agreeing with Heghine Basharyan was Prosperous Armenia (BHK) MP Elinar Vardanyan, who expressed her conviction that the the law will enter parliament only after the government removes the word "gender".

And finally, Republican Party of Armenia MP Hamlet Harutyunyan opined that the law should be removed completely and no longer discussed. "Not only the church, but also Armenian family traditions have ensured our development. Internationally recognized equality between men and women in the Armenian family has become a subject of discussion."

After the heated debate, the parliament voted and decided not to place the bill on the agenda.