International Women’s Day is about women being able to do more, says Pashinyan in congratulatory message

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, has sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of March 8.

“Dear women, I sincerely congratulate all of you on International Women’s Day. This holiday has always been important to us, but today we particularly emphasize it:

Today, we bow our heads in honor of our many bereaved mothers whose sons gave their lives for the homeland. Many of them bring new life and hope to all of us, overcoming grief and experiencing the joy of motherhood once again, thus bringing their martyred children back to life.

We bow our heads in honor of those women who have been widowed by the war, who bear the heavy burden of responsibility for their decapitated families, calling their children to live, study, overcome all difficulties, and win in the battles of fate.

Today, we bow our heads in honor of those women who are a strong support and backbone for their husbands serving in the armed forces, who bear the responsibility for the security of the country and the state.

Today, we bow our heads in honor of those women who serve in the Armed Forces themselves, also highlighting the expanding role of women in our country's life that is happening before our eyes. And this is not a matter of ideology, politics, or even worldview.

For quite some time now, women have been the majority of our country’s population, and it is understandable that they must take on greater responsibility. It is logical that today, in our country, more and more women are assuming roles, responsibilities, and positions that are unprecedented in our country’s history, and our society should encourage this process.

Women are more and more involved in economic activities, state administration, local self-government bodies, judicial and law enforcement systems, and as I mentioned, in the armed forces. And this is a guarantee of our country’s development, because failing to fully utilize the vast potential of women means being shortsighted.

Many are pessimistic about the expansion of women’s role in all areas of public and state life, stressing that the woman is the pillar of the traditional Armenian family. This is, of course, true and indisputable. But the man is also the same pillar of the traditional Armenian family, and no one worries when a man serves in the army, the police, engages in economic activities, or actively participates in public-political life.

On the other hand, the state must make motherhood a subject of special care, which we are consistently doing.

On March 8, 2023, I considered it important to emphasize this context because International Women’s Day is not about women being fragile and vulnerable. International Women’s Day is about women being able to do more.

Dear women, I congratulate all of you on March 8. Thank you for doing more and always being ready to do more.

Therefore, long live Freedom, long live the Republic of Armenia, long live our children who will live in a Free and Happy Armenia!”