YEREVAN, MARCH 8, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan has addressed a congratulatory message on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

“Today is International Women’s Day.

This day is a wonderful occasion to not only demonstrate love, respect and care for women, but to also once again speak about gender equality, protection of women’s rights, increasing women’s role and women’s public and political participation.

The chapters of our history are rich with bright women individuals, from Queen Parandzem to Mother Sose, from Zapel Yesayan to Silva Kaputikyan. The First Republic of Armenia was among the first states to recognize women’s right to vote and be elected, it had women lawmakers in parliament. It was the First Republic that had the honor of having the first woman diplomat of the modern era, in person of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Japan Diana Abgar.

Meanwhile, up to this day sometimes subordination of women’s rights and freedoms, violation and even violence towards women take place in our society, occurrences that are associated with the impact of foreign religions and cultures for many centuries and are absolutely foreign for the society and Armenian environment in terms of history and civilization.

In new Armenia, we must together create all equal conditions that will enable women to freely create and have their weighty contribution in strengthening the society and the state.

Dear women,

Congratulations on International Women’s Day”, the Speaker said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan