Epress.am News from Armenia
Prenatal sex-selection has been a problem in Armenia for 20 years. The first imbalance was noticed in 1993, when the annual average ratio of births began to tip in male newborns' favor. When this trend initially began to be studied, the ratio of female to male newborns was 100 to 106. Now the ratio has become 100 girls for every 114 boys.
Speaking to journalists today about sex-selection abortion and related issues was Assistant Representative at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country office in Armenia Garik Hayrapetyan, who said, "The first time the issue was observed was in 2007. We conducted the first research study in 2011, to understand the reasons and prevalence [of sex-selective abortions]. Our first report proved that the problem exists in Armenia, and the desire to have a male child is 4 times greater in the cities and 6 times greater in village communities in Armenia."
One of the important indicators of the report, Hayrapetyan said, is that the problem peaks in the case of the third or fourth child. "That is, if we look at the third or fourth female and male children's birth ratio, then [Armenia has] the highest indicator in the world: 160 to 170 boys for every 100 girls. We tried to understand the reasons and we conducted focus group research. In 2011, we determined three main aspects: male children are preferred for ensuring the continuity of the family lineage, for transferring property, and for acting as guarantees for aging parents and family. The reasons are various: beginning from defending the family to defending the nation."
The UNFPA representative said the findings of a new, 2013 research study on not only the reasons of such treatment, but also its impact on the population are distressing: "In Armenia today, there are 40,000 more boys [than girls] among children younger than 20."
"In terms of population figures, that's more than 1%. Regarding the consequences, I can say that in those countries where this phenomenon has long emerged, say, in China, in India, quite serious socioeconomic developments are noticeable. For example, China has a population of 60 million people, who are aging alone [without a partner]. Also, criminalization grows with the preference for male children," Hayrapetyan said.
According to Hayrapetyan, in Armenia, discrimination based on sex is due to several factors: "I think, the most profound is women's role in society, and the disbelief that a woman can be successful, provide for her aging parents, and ensure a prosperous life. In several Asian countries, a girl is considered a burden. There's a law in Vietnam that only male children can bury their parents. This law doesn't exist in Armenia, but there's discrimination up to the birth of a female child. It's amazing that the discrimination exists before the birth, but after the birth, tender and affectionate attitude is displayed [toward female children]. In short, the problem in Armenia is likened to a whim: 'A man is borne of man' or 'Well, I'm not going to leave my property to my son-in-law!' and so on."
The UNFPA representative stressed that if this trend continues, in 2060, there will be 93 thousand prospective mothers who won't be born, which is the absolute number of births in 2.5 years in Armenia.