Coalition’s announcement against Police Cheif sexist expression

April 27, 2016

On April 27,  The Coalition  to Stop Violence against women  issued a statement  on the  behaviour of the  Head of the Police RA Vladimir  Gasparyan  towards the journalist   Siranush Papyan. The  Coalition is deeply  concerned   about the inadequate behaviour  of  Vladimir Gasparyan  on April 24 by the  Memorial of  Tsitsernakaberd.  During  the meeting with the journalists the Head of  the Police  RA Vladimir Gasparyan  tried to manipulate Siranush Papyan- the journalist  of  Lragir and  1.am  web-sites  when implementing her  professional  activity   he said: ” I do not see women in you”.

The  Coalition to Stop Violence against Women describes this as a  manifestation of sexism, discrimination against  women and psychological  violence  against  the  journalist. At the  same  time  we want to mention that  targeting and  insulting  women   becomes a common practice  for the police senior officials. In  particular, in august 2013 during the demonstration against the construction of the building on the address Komitas  5 street, the deputy head of police Arayik Petrosyan whispered sexual swearings on the  ear of the activist  Shogher Melkumyan,  while another  policeman  kissed  her  neck. In  the summer of 2015, on  Baghramyan  street, during the public demonstration  ”Electric  Yerevan”,the  deputy head of  police  Hunan  Poghosyan  called the demonstrator  Elena  Ovsyannikova  a  provocator,  and he told  that  she offered sex to the  first  line of the police officers.

The  Coalition  to  Stop  Violence  against  Women  declares  that  sexual  hints  towards  women  activists and  journalists  are  psychological  weapons  and  these are  used  by  the  senior  police officers  as a means of pressure.

Such acts remain  unpunished  and  are  still  going on,  for its prevention  we offer  the  mass  media and  human rights organizations  to condemn the  sexist  behavior of  Vladimir  Gasparyan .

We  demand from the head of  Armenian Police  Vladimir Gasparyan to  make a public  apologize  to the journalist  Siranush Papyan, otherwise  there  will be the need to  demand his  resignation.

We  remind that according to the  6th article of  the law on ”Ensuring  equal  rights and opportunities of women and men ”  it is  forbidden to make an  offensive  and  public statement based on the  gender of  the person,  including the  mass media.

Previous Announcement on Police actions in Armenia

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