Vulnerable Youth Speak Out against Female Infanticide

“How is it possible to fight for human rights in a world that shows no regard for killing a foetus purely on the grounds that it is female?” asked Arman, 21, at the 2nd  Pan-Regional EYP (European Youth Parliament) forum in Gyumri, Armenia.   The forum supported 80 vulnerable youth from Armenia to have the opportunity to share their ideas about issues of social and political relevance and to create legislative motions to share with the Armenia Government.

 “If we fail to face this issue, all the remaining questions will be secondary,” Vanuhi, another participant of the forum, stressed emphatically, then paused to justify: “As a future Mom, I realise it would be a crime if we remained indifferent to this”. 

While tourism promotion, youth unemployment, decentralisation of the public administration were among the agenda topics, the youth were univocal in deciding that prenatal sex selection of a foetus was the most urgent and important.

World Vision Armenia’s technical experts worked alongside the youth to formulate effective recommendations for change and helped the proposed resolution on gender based violence contain a number of provisions from promoting campaigns through social media to introducing an institute of nurses and encouraging the birth of baby girls.

While the young delegates were engaged in debates, Vanuhi was outside the General Assembly hall, telling us enthusiastically about the work that had been done overnight: formulating proposals, drafting all the arguments and getting prepared for the opponents’ counterarguments.

On the final day of the forum, the resolution was submitted for vote. Arman delivered an exciting final speech, that was constantly interrupted by applauds and huge cheering in support.  Waving hands as a sign of approval covered the session hall. The resolution was adopted. Cameras continued catching the moment of joy and all-around inspiration hovering over the hall.  While the participants rushed to congratulate each other on the victory, each attendee commented on the growing confidence role of a new generation of change makers, ready to formulate a way forward into a new culture of debate.

 “This question appeared to be of more global significance to me; if not addressed properly, demographic problems would definitely follow,” Arman shared. .“The topic is important in terms of humanitarianism and for being able to integrate into the civilised society,” maintained Arman, whose male solidarity with a perceivably female topic was particularly appreciated by female delegates.

The discourse of sex-selective abortions resonated with the public quite recently when alarming facts were published indicating that about 1400 girls are not born in Armenia annually amid the traditional and deeply entrenched preference for baby boys and the  higher status that males traditionally enjoy in the Armenian society.

World Vision Armenia has recently joined the campaign to address the root problem of prenatal sex selection which is considered gender-based violence. Through its programme interventions, World Vision tries to eliminate the motivation behind the practice throughout Armenian communities, intentionally engaging men, women and youth in creating respectful and healthy family relationships and elevating awareness and appreciation of the roles women play in society.

At the end of the summit, Arman shared about his dreams for the future - to serve his country in whatever capacity. Vanuhi also voiced her desire to become a rescuer and her dream to advocate for world peace.

 “I feel one major threat to peace is gender based sex selection as that is an actual war against a baby girl,” Arman interfered as if assuring the struggle for fulfilling those dreams was given in Gyumri - through the adoption of the resolution.