Eliminating Violence and Discrimination in Schools: Day of Silence in Armenia

Since 1996, different countries around the world mark the third Friday in April as the Day of Silence — an annual student-led campaign towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Its main aim is to raise public awareness of and prevent violence, intolerance, harassment, and discrimination in educational institutions.

In a statement issued today, the Yerevan-based Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO states that millions of people around the world will remain silent today. 

"We too will be silent. We will be silent because 'a10th grade student committed suicide'; we will be silent because '6th grade students decided to boycott classes because their parents didn't want their children to study with new students who had just transferred to the school'; because 'the school was simply against accepting a child with autism' and because 'a 7th grade student attacked a teacher'. Degrading treatment is undesirable, aggressive behavior among students and teachers and tends to recur. In Armenia, unfortunately, there is no legal framework, no strategy, and no accurate perceptions addressing bullying. Moreover, the situation is made more problematic by intolerance, the low level of awareness, the lack of mutual respect in society, and so on.

"This year, dozens of youth are participating in the campaign aimed at preventing and eradicating humiliating and degrading treatment in educational institutions. They made signs and had their photos taken, which are being shared online, on how and why they're breaking the silence. Educational institutions should be a safe space for all. 

"Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO has joined this campaign since 2010. Every year, the organization keeps silent for all those who are unable to speak about the instances of discrimination against them. This year too on April 18 the organization will not be available to world: we will respond to neither emails nor phone calls; we won't organize any events; and we won't provide any direct services. On that day, we will be silent," reads the press release issued by PINK Armenia.

For more information on the Day of Silence campaign in Armenia and to see the photos go to https://www.facebook.com/dosarmenia or follow the hashtag #dosarmenia.