A total of 1,400 female babies are not born in Armenia because of sex-selective abortions, according to the project “Combating Gender-Biased Sex Selection in Armenia” implemented since May 2015 by the International Center for Human Development (ICHD) in partnership with the Stichting Save the Children Nederland (STC Netherlands), Armavir Development Centre (ADC), Martuni Women’s Community Council (MWCC) and Save the Children (STC) International and funded by the European Union (EU).
According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the male/female child ratio is 108/100 in Armenia this year against 113/100 last year, which is certainly progress.
Such an outcome was due to awareness raising activities and public consolidation campaigns in the regions, said Vahan Asatryan, a representative from ICHD.
“We conducted collaborative work in all those directions in the regions. The state policies towards promoting public awareness are very important. Any attempt to put off fire is certainly good, but when you blow it out, it may erupt instead of extinguishing. Hence, we need knowledge to achieve that. That is why we have prioritized the issue,” he said, noting that sex-selective abortions are often motivated by economic factors (when women feel they have a secondary role in the society).
Asatryan admitted that the male-female ratio in Armenia is a concern also against the backdrop of the decreasing birth rate.