Armenian media semiar/workshop on LGBT rights and reporting 12-14 November 2010, Tsaghkadzor, Armenia

I will start from the end. Lara Aharonian, prominent human rights activist based in Yerevan, summed it up perfectly on her blog post: the atmosphere, the event, the outcome. This link - LGBT and journalists: a journey through tolerance and mafia game! - was among the most re-tweeted under the Twitter hashtag #armLGBT.

When I posted the link to her blog post on Twitter, @LGBTAsylumNews re-tweeted it by commenting: “fantastic report on grassroots LGBT work with media in Armenia by @Lara_Aha”

RT @unzippedblog fantastic report on grassroots LGBT work with media in Armenia by @Lara_Aha http://bit.ly/9coO1A #armLGBT

In a very recent past, I did criticise, at times pretty harsh, the British Council in Armenia for their failures in dealing with the LGBT related issues and effective (even if not intended) promotion of homophobic media outlets. Praise where praise is due. To the organiser - British Council Armenia, and participants, of course.

This type of workshops are exactly the type of initiatives that must be supported by bodies like the British Council if they want to promote and support changes for better in Armenia, and for real. While the immediate outcomes of this media workshop are indeed positive, its long-term success will depend on continuity of the process. Further media monitoring will give an idea whether this seminar made an impact (at least) on the work of those who participated.

Important update: Radio Van removed their joint highly praised #armLGBT media workshop article prepared by Arman from the radio station and Mamikon from PINK Armenia. I have to say, I am not surprised. I am (always!) ready to acknowledge positive changes, regardless of past history. But... Removal of this article means one thing to me. This particular radio station initially posted it to show off only. They didn't mean it. It was perhaps too honest for their 'standards'. You may still read the article (both parts) in full on Mamikon’s personal blog:

Ես կապ չունեմ նրանց հետ
Толерантность-шо це та ке?
***
And below are few more links prepared by participants following the media workshop.

ArmVersion:

Երկխոսությունը ծնում է հանդուրժողականություն
Խղճուկ ես դառնում, եթե պետությունը կողքիդ չի
***
Hetq Online:
Նա ընտրել է մարդկային հարաբերություններից ամենաբարդը
Lilit and Mary: Two Women Living Together in Armenia
***
Jenka’s blog
Ապրել այնպես, որ......
***
A1+:
Լուսանկարչուհին իրեն է պատկերել
Photostory by Svetlana Antonyan ('Ocean') on A1+: artist, gay, society...

***
Here are how the events were unfolded at the media workshop, as reported on Twitter by participants @Lara_Aha, @ditord and @mmkarmenia (with few additional tweets and comments [] by myself @unzippedblog).

Day 1: 12 November 2010

ditord
Media workshop in Tsakhadzor, #Armenia to bring together journalists and LGBT activists for team reporting projects #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
in Tsaghkatsor, Seminar on #LGBT rights and media in #Armenia 12-14 November, will be moderating discussion on #tolerance #ArmLGBT

unzippedblog
Follow @Lara_Aha @ditord @mmkarmenia for updates on #Armenia media seminar/workshop in Tsaghkadzor on #LGBT rights and reporting #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
#LGBT members and media people get to know each other, the ambiance a little tense but people r starting to open up #armLGBT #Armenia

Lara_Aha
@unzippedblog [present at media seminar are] journalists from A1+, hetq, Aravot, radio Van, Hraparak, Tert, IWPR #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
[also present at the seminar are] observers from #british Embassy, British council #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
@ditord is facilitating the introductions #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
the group is divided in 2: #LGBT and media. they will prepare a list of complaints against each other #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
the #LGBT community representatives expressed their concerns regarding media reporting and same the media group #armLGBT now will present

Lara_Aha
@ditord presenting the concerns and expectations of the media regarding the #LGBT community #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
radio van issue has been raised in the media group #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
What is the #LGBT community is expecting from the Armenian media? #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
media says: #LGBT community has to develop a better media strategy #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
media wants to know the needs of the #LGBT community in #Armenia #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
#LGBT community is presenting their concerns: first, use of language in the media, hamaseramol for example #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
second problem is the silence towards #LGBT issues in #Armenia media #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
3rd: lack of real investigation and references in articles related to #LGBT issues #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
misinformation distributed through media on #LGBT issues #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
another important concern: the fine line between hate speech and freedom of expression #LGBT #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
both sides presented, now the discussion starts between #LGBT and media #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
#LGBT representative is suggesting to present the right terminology regarding sexual orientation for use in media #armLGBT #Armenia

Lara_Aha
it's getting really hot in this conference room, heated debate #armLGBT #armenia

unzippedblog
@Lara_Aha You should all go for drinks afterwards :) #armLGBT

mmkarmenia
Changes are possible #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
@unzippedblog actually we will play mafia :) afterwards #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
@ditord is presenting "tolerance in media" #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
it seems that there is a good start for communication between #LGBT and media groups #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
62.5% of ethnic minority groups media coverage in #southcaucasus 2004-2006 #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
0.4% of sexual minority group media coverage in #southcaucasus, 2004-2006 #armLGBT #LGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
ALM is the most tolerant towards ethnic minorities apparently in Armenian TV and Aravot among the newspapers #armLGBT #armenia

Lara_Aha
sexual minorities are the most active in using #socialmedia in #armenia for their cause #armLGBT #LGBT

Lara_Aha
[these are questionable projections] according to kinsey method, in #Armenia 4% of male pop. is gay and 2% of female population - aprox. 65 000 men and 18 000 women #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
Vahan Ishkhanyan talking about Charents' gay poems published in inqnaqir and the issue around it #armLGBT #armenia

mmkarmenia
Vahan Ishkhanyan is presenting Chatents's homoerotic poems #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
end of day one, seminar media and #LGBT - interesting discussions /insights #armLGBT #armenia

Day 2: 13 November 2010

mmkarmenia
day 2: preparing articles with media representatives #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
Day 2: media training seminar on #LGBT issues. Today participants are paired to write articles on the issue #armLGBT #armenia

mmkarmenia
me and Arman from radio Van will prepare an article together, hope it will not be the most boring in the group #armLGBT

mmkarmenia
What we did for journalists, don't know yet. What they changed in me, forced to write an article:) #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
the team will be back soon to present their story drafts, can't wait. Some of them even went out in the city to do an opinion poll #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
watching a documentary filmed by one of the participant journalists in 2004 but refused for hatuk goti [TV programme], entitled "dziadzzni dak" #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
now journalists are asking honest questions about #LGBT isues, to understand more and getting answers from the #LGBT reps. #armLGBT #armenia

mmkarmenia
Tomorrow morning you can read Arman's article on radio Van's blog, for me it is perfect #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
some of the group working on the articles #armLGBT http://yfrog.com/9d28gtj

Lara_Aha
first article MAmikon and Arman team http://bit.ly/cpS76O #armLGBT #armenia

mmkarmenia
oops, we were even faster, the article is ready: Mamikon from @pinkarmenia and Arman from radio Van. Enjoy it http://bit.ly/cpS76O #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
like it very much RT @pinkarmenia: the result of @mmkarmenia and Arman team work http://bit.ly/cpS76O #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
Arman and Mamikon team working #armLGBT http://yfrog.com/3ml6snqj

mmkarmenia
another post created by Janna from radio Van and Zara from WFCE http://t.co/KSKwvTU #armLGBT

Day 3: 14 November 2010

mmkarmenia
Day 3. Presention of team works. Actually 2 teams were faster and their articles were ready yesterday #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
Day 3: Media seminar on #LGBT issues in #Armenia: presentation of team-work articles #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
Arman from Radio Van is presenting his article and interpreting the comments http://bit.ly/cDkh1J #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
Mamik and Arman had a very constructive approach writing this article and reflected on the real problems in society on #tolerance #armLGBT

ditord
Presentation of results of joint work at #armLGBT first presentation by RadioVan http://goo.gl/V2l7E

Lara_Aha
172 people already read Arman's and Mamikon's post since yesterday night which shows the interest in this topic #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
"aper karogha sagh tertere gren vor menq estegh eyinq kaluboyneri het" ,- some men hanging around the hotel's swimming pool #armLGBT

ditord
@RadioVAN is asking here http://goo.gl/V2l7E Why are we more tolerant towards unfairness, but not to sexual minorities #armLGBT

ditord
comment on @mmkarmenia & @RadioVAN post http://goo.gl/V2l7E its easier to be against #armLGBT community than corrupt government officials

Lara_Aha
2nd article JEnya and Zara http://bit.ly/cw9qx9 on coming out - artagalusd #armLGBT

ditord
Zhenka / Zara's article http://goo.gl/dOrW9 is long, boring, too many figures, no specific issue is raised, but its a great start #armLGBT

mmkarmenia
I guess #armLGBT community do not have that much problems with journalists but each of them has problems in their groups

ditord
Gohar Hakobian of Aravot Daily is presenting results of 'vox pop' on the streets of Tsakhadzor. Results are funny! #armLGBT

ditord
In response to question what they think of #armLGBT, someone started complaining from lack of jobs and social problems #lol

ditord
Gohar Hakobian says Tsakhadzor ppl tolerant, because its a tourist place and they are used to seeing diverse groups #armLGBT

Lara_Aha
Gohar from Aravot and Karen from WFCE went out on the streets of Tsaxkatsor and did an opinion poll on #LGBT issues #armLGBT

ditord
can't really comment on Gohar Hakobian's article draft for Aravot Daily before it's published, interesting stuff though #armLGBT

ditord
Susan Simonian is presenting a feature article on gender change at #armLGBT workshop in tsakhadzor

ditord
Susan Simonian's feature paints a touching picture of #armLGBT minority's struggle to survive in a hostile environment. Depressing!

ditord
Susan Simonian's feature for #armLGBT woskshop has a success story. Yey! Love it!

mmkarmenia
Gayane from A1+ presented amazing video report about Ocean and her artwork #armLGBT

mmkarmenia
Lusine's real story presenting Vahe from Hetq. Another reality, another emotions and this is all about our lovely Lusine #armLGBT

ditord
Vahe's story prepared for #armLGBT workshop is rather controversial. Has lot's of good sides, but somehting bother's me about it

ditord
from mainstream journalism perspective, knowing potential negative feedback, I wouldn't publish Vahe's story as it is #armLGBT

mmkarmenia
Finalizing the seminar. Thanks to British Council for great initiative #armLGBT

unzippedblog
Thanks @Lara_Aha @mmkarmenia @ditord for excellent tweet-reporting from #armLGBT media seminar. Will sum up your tweets into a blog post.

Lara_Aha
seminar is officially over, it was an amazing experience and exceeded my expectations! i will be back with lots of energy and hope #armLGBT

unzippedblog
@Lara_Aha WOW. Well done, guys. I like what I am reading :) #armLGBT

“Stop the Counter” events to mark World AIDS Day 2009 in Yerevan, Armenia

This year, group of Armenian NGOs united to mark World AIDS Day with a broad range of actions. Other individuals and organisations stage World AIDS Day related events too.

Organisers held a press conference today which has been widely reported by Armenian online media. As Tert.am rightly pointed out, the “Armenian public continues to cling to HIV/AIDS stereotypes”.

The other participant in today’s press conference, Mamikon Hovsepyan of PINK Armenia (Public Information and Need of Knowledge), turned his attention to those issues which affect gay and lesbian individuals, as well as substance abusers. “Because of discrimination and intolerance, they cannot go see a doctor or seek treatment.”

According to Hovsepyan, there is a widely held belief in Armenia that the danger of contracting the HIV virus stems mostly from gay and lesbian people; though, in reality, the virus is most often spread among heterosexual people. In Armenia, people’s rights continue to be violated, while the accessibility of treatment continues to remain a dream, concluded Hovsepyan.

Here is the schedule of main events planned for 1 December 2009 in Yerevan. I hope this collaboration will continue throughout the year, and we will see more actions planned in regions.

[Earlier, within the framework of “Stop the Counter” action, PINK Armenia and Armenian Student Forum organised trainings on 26-28 November to raise students/youth awareness about sexual health issues.]

Public Information and Need of Knowledge, Armenian Student Forum, Real World - Real People, Positive People Armenian Network non-governmental organization are organizing “Stop the Counter” action dedicated to World AIDS Day aiming to raise society's awareness and consciousness about the spread of HIV and stigma & discrimination against people living with HIV. (via PINK Armenia)
***
1 December 2009

16:00 Stop the Couner March starting from the park near to Yerevan State Conservatory and ending at Cinema Moscow. (for more details, in Armenian - see Aysor)

16.00 march > from Komitas statue (in front of Yerevan State Conservatory)
17.30 human ribbon > Republic Square
18.00 stop the counter > Aznavour Square (in front of the Cinema Moscow)

19:00 Cinema Moscow: “Who never leaved” film screening,

19:30 Cinema Moscow: “The Famous Armenian Cultural Figures against AIDS” exhibition opening, 22:00 KAMI club, afterparty with DJ Vakcinology. (for more about the exhibition and club party - see Hetq Online)

Important!!

If there is one party you should go on 1 December in Yerevan, it's party at AFTERSHOCK REPUBLIC. Surprises, information, worthwhile cause. Enter the club (only 500 AMD) and this all goes as a donation for PINK Armenia!!! Read here for more.


This events are supported by UNAIDS.

PINK Armenia and Armenian Students Forum unite forces to raise students awareness on sexual health

I welcome this initiative. They say, “united we stand...” They are right.
***

PINK Armenia (“Public Information and Need of Knowledge”) and Armenian Student Forum are organizing “Stop the Counter” action dedicated to World AIDS Day to raise students/youth awareness about sexual health issues.

Within the framework of this action, the organisers with the help of non-formal education will conduct trainings on issues related to sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.

PINK Armenia and Armenian Student Forum are looking forward to your active participation.

The trainings will take place at PINK Armenia’s office on 26-28 November and are free of charge: 2 Pushkin, apt. 11 (near Sakharov Square).

For more information, contact:  tel: (010) 58 09 44,
email: armstudforum@gmail.com, info@pinkarmenia.org

Training on gender stereotypes at PINK Armenia (students' feedback)

Group of students of Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex (Yerevan) visited PINK Armenia and participated in a training on gender stereotypes. Their feedback - very positive. Well done, PINK, and well done, students.

ՀԱՍԱՐԱԿԱԳԵՏՆԵՐԻ ԽՈՒՄԲԸ՛ ՓԻՆԿ-ՈՒՄ 29.08.09 Օգոստոսի 28-ին մի քանի հետաքրքրասեր աշակերտներով կրթահամալիրի՝ Հասարակության հետ կապերի բաժնի պատասխանատու Նանե Բագրատունու հետ գնացինք ՓԻՆՔ տեղեկատվական կենտրոն: Այնտեղ մթնոլորտը բավականին ջերմ և մտերմիկ էր: Մեզ շատ լավ ընդունեցին, և մենք մասնակցեցինք «Գենդերային կարծրատիպեր» թեմայով դասընթացին: Միջավայրը շատ հաճելի էր, մասնակիցները՝ երիտասարդներ ու պատանիներ: Տարբեր սեռի և տարիքի ներկայացուցիչներս միմյանց հետ ծանոթանալու համար յուրաքանչյուրս նկարեցինք մեզ ու ներկայացրինք մյուսներին. հետաքրքիր ու յուրօրինակ սկիզբ էր: Հետո մեզ ցուցադրվեց մի նկար, որի մասին յուրաքանչյուրն իր կարծիքը հայտնեց, և կարծիքների միավորման արդյունքում հասկացանք նկարի իմաստն ու քննարկեցինք այն կարծրատիպերը որ մենք արտահայտել էինք: Փոքրիկ հյուրասիրությունից և մի քիչ հանգստանալուց հետո բաժանվեցինք երկու խմբի և սկսեցինք, խմբային աշխատանք։ Յուրաքանչյուր խումբ պետք է առանձին- առանձին ներկայացներ կնոջն ու տղամարդուն բնորոշ կարծրատիպեր: Դրանից հետո սկսվեց բանավեճ-քննարկում կանանց և տղամադկանց հավասարության մասին: Քննարկումից հետո մենք դիտեցինք տեսանյութ` փոքրիկ անիմացիոն ֆիլմ այն մասին, թե որքան տարբեր են կատարում նույն գորոծողությունը կանայք և տղամարդիկ: Ժամանակն անցավ աննկատ, բայց այդ կարճ ժամանակահատվածում ծանոթացանք տարբեր մարդկանց հետ, քննարկեցինք տարբեր թեմաներ և հաճելի տրամադրությամբ վերադարձանք տուն:

Մանե Գևորգյան
Արաքսյա Գևորգ
Ավագ դպրոց 
*source: Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex

'Women and Art' workshops at the Women’s Resource Centre, Yerevan, Armenia

The Women’s Resource Centre invites all interested women to take part in the series of workshops on “Art and Personal development”.

This is a unique opportunity for all women, regardless their background to create and express themselves in a very friendly environment. [Topics vary from making drawings to "My space of anarchy" and "My calling". They will be modified depending on preferences of participants.]

The workshops will be conducted at the Centre, weekly by a professional artist.

For registration and more information, please visit Women's Resource Centre on Tuesday the 14th from 16:30.

Women’s Resource Centre
34 Zarubyan st
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: +37410 51-91-68

Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner to meet with Armenian LGBT representatives

For the first time, gay rights will be on the agenda of European Human Rights chief's visit to Armenia. On 7 October, Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, will meet with representatives of We For Civil Equality (WFCE) NGO, the first (and so far the only) LGBT-related NGO in Armenia which was formally registered in July 2006. Mr Hammarberg will hold meetings with a range of Armenian human rights and non-governmental organisations, along with Armenian authorities, including president, prime minister and head of parliament. It's an important opportunity for Armenian LGBT representatives to present the situation with gay rights in Armenia in its broader context and lobby equality and anti-discrimination legislation.

Currently WFCE NGO is working on two main projects:

• Prevention and Empowerment in the Newly Independent States: Responding to HIV/AIDS amongst Sexual Minorities (2006-2010. Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Non official name is ARMENIAN RAINBOWS )
• LGBT Human Rights violation documentation – “Armenian LGBT Human Rights Campaign”, funded by ILGA – Europe (European branch of International Lesbian and Gay Association).

A report on homophobic incidents and hate crimes in Armenia will come out soon. Similar reports, sponsored by ILGA-Europe, have just been released in Georgia and Azerbaijan.

A scope of activities by WFCE includes regular HIV consultation/testing, film screenings and occasional club nights in Yerevan. In collaboration with various international organisations, WFCE is also involved in HIV/AIDS and LGBT-related trainings.

I am pleased to see that WFCE website is now being updated more regularly and gives clearer idea of programmes and activities. However, Armenia and World News sections on its front page remain outdated and are in need of more actual face-lift.

WFCE NGO: Calendar of events for October

October 7

‘We For Civil Equality’ NGO will have a meeting with Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner who is in official visit in Armenia.

October 7-12

President of Moldova's LGBT organisation GenderDoc-M will be in Armenia

October 8

HIV consultation and testing

October 11

Film club

Below is the press release by A1+ on Hammarberg's visit to Armenia:

Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, starts on Sunday 7 October a 5-day high-level official visit to Armenia to assess the human rights situation in the country.

At the centre of Mr Hammarberg's agenda there will be a broad range of human rights issues, including the functioning of the judiciary, conditions of detention, prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, minorities' rights, conscientious objectors, rights of refugees, social and economic rights. The visit will also focus on trafficking in human beings and vulnerable groups. Commissioner Hammarberg will visit various police stations, detention centres, shelters and psychiatric institutions in Yerevan and Gyumri.

During the visit, the Commissioner will hold meetings with the highest authorities of the State, including the President, Robert Kotcharian, the Prime-Minister, Serzhe Sargsyan and the Chairman of the Parliament, Tigran Torosyan. He will also meet parliamentarians, the Presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Cassation Court, the Ombudsman, local authorities, the Head of the Armenian Church, as well as representatives of the civil society.

On the afternoon of Thursday 11 October, Mr Hammarberg will hold a press conference to present the first findings (Council of Europe's Office in Yerevan - 10, David Anhagt street).

LGBT Activists from post-Soviet States Gain Skills in Advocacy

On 20-24 May ILGA-Europe has organized a training on documenting human rights violations, planning advocacy campaigns and lobbying European institutions for a group of LGBT activists from Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. The training took place on the shore of a picturesque Issyk-Kuli lake in Kyrgyzstan, and facilitated by experienced trainers from Russia, Ireland and ILGA-Europe’s staff team itself. The host organization was NGO “Labrys” (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan).

The participants gained skills in documenting human rights violations through personal interviews and by using specialized computer programs, in lobbying the European Union, Council of Europe, United Nations and the OSCE, in planning and implementing advocacy campaigns. The training lasted for a total of 5 days, the days filled with work, and evenings – with long dinners, karaoke nights and deep conversations around the fire on the beach.

The training is part of a large-scale 5-year program on development of the LGBT movement in the post-Soviet states “Prevention and Empowerment in the CIS [the Commonwealth of the Independent States]” (PRECIS), implemented by COC Netherlands with support of the Dutch Government and in cooperation with ILGA-Europe.

by Maxim Anmeghichean, Programmes Director, ILGA-Europe (June 2007 Euro-letter)