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EQUALITY V. TRADITION: DRAFT LAW RANKLES CONSERVATIVE-MINDED PUBLIC
http://armenianow.com/society/46835/karen_andreasyan_khachik_stamboultsyan_gender_equa lity
SOCIETY | 12.06.13 | 15:37
Photolure
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN ArmeniaNow reporter
The new bill on gender rights and equality which has passed three
hearings in the parliament and the draft law "Agaist Discrimination"
developed by the Ombudsman to later be submitted to the law-makers'
consideration, have been severely criticized by a broad sector of
the conservative Armenian society, who believe that the bills create
grounds for destroying Armenian family traditions.
"Christians Against Numbering People" union leader Khachik
Stamboultsyan believes the parliament has adopted a bill on gender
rights and equality that is a slippery slope in terms of formulations
of the concept of "gender".
"By gender we should understand 'socially consolidated acquired
behavior', meaning that, say, it is a man, but feels like a woman.
They have taken the gender issue and fit it into homosexuality. The
Ombudsman's new draft law gives full rights and freedom to homosexuals,
and homosexuality is viewed as a normal phenomenon. This is against
nature, illegal and inhuman," he says.
Theology professor at Yerevan State University Vardan Khachatryan says
the bills are dictated by Europe and giving freedom to homosexuals by
the power of law is the price for European integration. He believes
the society has to try to prevent the president from signing those.
The Ombudsman's bill is now at the Venice Commission for international
expert assessment.
Religion Subcommittee of the Public Council has released a related
statement, saying that this bill is "legalizing lechery and perversion
in Armenia". Once adopted the bill would openly legalize the expansion
of sexual minorities and the advocacy of their lifestyle in Armenia.
Countering the critics of the bill, Armenia's Human Rights Defender
Karen Andreasyan says that the draft law provides for protection of
life, work, safety and health for women, ethnic minorities, people
with disabilities, representatives of political minorities, the poor,
and all those citizens who find themselves in extremely vulnerable
conditions because of employers' or state bodies' discriminating and
illegal actions.
"I can assure you that the speculations on destruction of Armenian
family traditions and perversion are ungrounded and improper and have
no relation whatsoever to this draft law. Another misinformation is
that the bill is at the parliament now. It is going to take months
if not years of work before it reaches the National Assembly," says
the Ombudsman.
Honorary doctor of theology Samvel Nikoyan believes the bills are a
threat to the whole system of human values.
"The human society is again on the verge of Sodom and Gomorrah, gay
parades and their marriages legalized in France and eleven US states
are the proof of that," he says.
Critics of the bills call to unite and, through protests and petitions,
prevent their adoption.
From: Baghdasarian
http://armenianow.com/society/46835/karen_andreasyan_khachik_stamboultsyan_gender_equa lity
SOCIETY | 12.06.13 | 15:37
Photolure
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN ArmeniaNow reporter
The new bill on gender rights and equality which has passed three
hearings in the parliament and the draft law "Agaist Discrimination"
developed by the Ombudsman to later be submitted to the law-makers'
consideration, have been severely criticized by a broad sector of
the conservative Armenian society, who believe that the bills create
grounds for destroying Armenian family traditions.
"Christians Against Numbering People" union leader Khachik
Stamboultsyan believes the parliament has adopted a bill on gender
rights and equality that is a slippery slope in terms of formulations
of the concept of "gender".
"By gender we should understand 'socially consolidated acquired
behavior', meaning that, say, it is a man, but feels like a woman.
They have taken the gender issue and fit it into homosexuality. The
Ombudsman's new draft law gives full rights and freedom to homosexuals,
and homosexuality is viewed as a normal phenomenon. This is against
nature, illegal and inhuman," he says.
Theology professor at Yerevan State University Vardan Khachatryan says
the bills are dictated by Europe and giving freedom to homosexuals by
the power of law is the price for European integration. He believes
the society has to try to prevent the president from signing those.
The Ombudsman's bill is now at the Venice Commission for international
expert assessment.
Religion Subcommittee of the Public Council has released a related
statement, saying that this bill is "legalizing lechery and perversion
in Armenia". Once adopted the bill would openly legalize the expansion
of sexual minorities and the advocacy of their lifestyle in Armenia.
Countering the critics of the bill, Armenia's Human Rights Defender
Karen Andreasyan says that the draft law provides for protection of
life, work, safety and health for women, ethnic minorities, people
with disabilities, representatives of political minorities, the poor,
and all those citizens who find themselves in extremely vulnerable
conditions because of employers' or state bodies' discriminating and
illegal actions.
"I can assure you that the speculations on destruction of Armenian
family traditions and perversion are ungrounded and improper and have
no relation whatsoever to this draft law. Another misinformation is
that the bill is at the parliament now. It is going to take months
if not years of work before it reaches the National Assembly," says
the Ombudsman.
Honorary doctor of theology Samvel Nikoyan believes the bills are a
threat to the whole system of human values.
"The human society is again on the verge of Sodom and Gomorrah, gay
parades and their marriages legalized in France and eleven US states
are the proof of that," he says.
Critics of the bills call to unite and, through protests and petitions,
prevent their adoption.
From: Baghdasarian