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.