Final Program

Friday, April 21

9:00 – 9:45 Registration

9:45 – 11:15 Opening Session

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

  • Convocation, Conference Chair, Shakeh Kaftarian
  • Welcome, President, American University of Armenia, Armen Der Kiureghian
  • Opening Keynote Address, Minister of Justice of RoA, Arpine Hovhannisyan
  • Opening Keynote Address, President, San Jose State University, Mary Papazian

11:15 – 12:00

Plenary Panel 1: Reclaiming Our Future through Mentoring and Supporting Girls and Women

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Moderator: Valentina Gevorgyan

Panelists:

  • Varduhi Baloyan
  • Leigh Carter
  • Shushan Doydoyan
  • Naira Manukyan

12:00-12:30 Coffee Break

12:30-1:45 Parallel Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 1A: Challenging the Traditional Structures

Room 307E, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Note: English only

Moderator: Laura Dirtadian

Panelists:

  • Lilit Grigoryan: Preventing Violence through Transforming Gender Norms of Masculinity
  • Alis Marachelian: The Social Change Model Applied to Creating Gender Equity, one family at a time
  • Lale Pakradounian: Breaking Gender Roles: Armenian Women and the Army
  • Sevan Petrosyan: Engaging Men in Gender Related Work

Breakout Session 1B: Republic of Armenia Frameworks and Compliance

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Moderator: Ani Jolizian

Panelists:

  • Lilit Avetisyan: Analysis of the State Budget from the Gender Sensitive Budgeting Perspective
  • Maria Abrahamyan: Law Enforcement as a Means to Empower Women and Girls: Why is it Important?
  • Arman Gharibyan: Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence in Armenia: National and International Legal Framework
  • Vladimir Osipov: Gender Stereotypes: Their Prevalence and Effective Ways to Combat Them

Breakout Session 1C: Ten Years of Entrepreneurship and Development: The Impact on Women and Society

Small Auditorium, Main Building, American University of Armenia

Moderator: Judy Norsigian

Panelists:

  • Anahit Ghazaryan
  • Arpine Grigoryan
  • Aghunik Hazryan
  • Zorayr Kirakosian
  • Ayta Santuryan

1:45 – 2:30 Lunch and music

2:30 – 3:15

Plenary Panel 2: The Power of Sharing: Empowered and Empowering Women of Armenia

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Moderator: Sara Anjargolian

Panelists:

  • Sara Anjargolian
  • Larisa Hovannisian
  • Taline Kevonian
  • Karin Sarkissian

3:30 – 4:45 Parallel Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 2A: The Armenian Landscape

Room 207E, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Note: English only

Moderator: Gohar Shahnazaryan

Panelists:

  • Tereza Amryan: Changing Image of Yezidi Women
  • Arev Papazian: The Effects of Armenian Nationalism on the Lives of Women in Armenia
  • Dhamodharan Ramasamy: Are Women in Armenia already Empowered or yet to be Empowered?
  • Shanmugapriya Vinayagam: Immediate and Long-Lasting Impact of Female Risk Factors on the Lives of Girls, Women and Society

Breakout Session 2B: Motivational Models of Empowerment

Room 208E, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Note: English only

Moderator: Hilda Grigorian

Panelists:

  • Svetlana Aslanyan: Strengthening Rural Communities through Empowering Rural Women
  • Ani Kalayjian: Transforming Horizontal Violence: Through Empowerment of Women, Establishing EQ & Mindfulness through the 7-Step Integrative Healing Model
  • Armine Matentsian: Find Your Voice, Follow Your Passion, Move Forward
  • Arshaluys Mushkambaryan: “Peace Circles” as a Successful Project to Support and Empower Women

Breakout Session 2C: The Psychological Functions of Home and Society

Small Auditorium, Main Building, American University of Armenia

Moderator: Mimi Zarookian

Panelists:

  • Gabriel Armas-Cardona: (Dis)Empowered Women: Armenian Women as both Victim and Perpetrator of Sex-Selective Abortion
  • Ani Jilozian: Domestic Violence in Armenia: Challenges and Hopes
  • Nvard Manasian: Engendering the Images in the Articles on Prenatal Sex Selection
  • Yelena Sardaryan: Shelter and Crisis Centers: A Women’s Empowerment Model

Breakout Session 2D: Armenian Experience in Fighting Trafficking

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Moderator: Gulnara Shahinian

Panelists:

  • Vicktoria Avakova
  • Hasmik Edilian
  • Vahram Kazhoyan
  • Eleonora Virapian

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

5:00 – 5:15 Victoria Aslanian, TEDx talk

Akian Art Gallery, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

5:30 – 6:45 Jazz concert by Vahagn Hayrapetyan, opening of exhibition, book signing, wine & cheese reception.

 

Saturday, April 22

9:00 – 9:45 Registration and coffee

9:45 – 10:20

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

  • Plenary Keynote Address, Founding Partner and Chair of Board of Governors, UWC Dilijan College, Veronika Zonabend

10:30 -11:30

Plenary Panel 3: Empowerment through Education and Career Development

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Moderator: Melissa Brown

Panelists:

  • Siran Hovhannisyan: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in the Economic Sector
  • Hasmik Sahakyan: Women Empowerment through Professional Training
  • Gohar Shahnazaryan: Representation and Participation in the Political Parties and Political Initiatives in Armenia: Gender Analyses
  • Lara Tcholakian: Advancing the Role of Women in Armenia’s Business Environment

11:40 – 12:50 Parallel Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 3A: Women and their Career Development

Small Auditorium, Main Building, American University of Armenia

Note: English only

Moderator: Marine Gouchian

Panelists:

  • Narine Abazian and Ani Manukyan: Empowerment of Girls and Women through Information and Communication Technologies
  • Natalya Harutyunyan: Women Empowerment for Local Political Engagement
  • Anna Ohanjanyan: Encouraging Female Uptake of STEM Subjects in Armenian Primary and Secondary Schools

Breakout Session 3B: Women in the Health Care System

Room 113W, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Note: English only

Moderator: Madlene Minassian

Panelists:

  • Zaruhi Arakelyan: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Healthcare Providers who may come in Contact with Women who have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence
  • Khachanush Hakobyan: Best Practices in Women’s Health Care in Armenia
  • Mariam Manoukian: Empowering Women in Medicine

 Breakout Session 3C: Academic Approaches to Women’s Empowerment

Room 114W, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Note: English only

Moderator: Jacqueline Karaaslanian

Panelists:

  • Tanya Saroj Bakhru: Global Citizenship in Women’s Studies Classroom
  • Nancy Bocskor: Your Path to Public Service: Empowering Women to Change their Communities
  • Barbara Merguerian: Empowerment of Women by Learning the Lessons of the Past
  • Nayereh Tohidi: Challenges of Developing Gender and Women’s Studies

Breakout Session 3D: Women as Media Leaders

Manoogian Hall, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Moderator: Maria Titizian

Panelists:

  • Anna Israelyan
  • Nouneh Sarkissian
  • Satik Seyranyan

Breakout Session 3E: Economic Empowerment: The Prime Minister’s 2017 Award Winning Women Entrepreneurs of Armenia

Room 314W, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

Note: Armenian only

Moderator: Elen Manukyan

Panelists:

  • Irina Chibookhyan
  • Narine Khojoyan
  • Araksia Martirossian
  • Zaruhi Muradyan

Akian Art Gallery, Paramaz Avedisian Building, American University of Armenia

12:50 – 3:00 Closing remarks, concert by Lilit Pipoyan and lunch reception.