What principles and solutions does the RA Constitution enshrine in ensuring women’s rights and opportunities? It should be noted that the amended Constitution, which came into force in December 2015, added new articles on women’s rights, which are included in the second chapter, “Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of a Human and Citizen”.
Article 28. General equality before the law
Everyone is equal before the law.
Article 29. Prohibition of discrimination
Discrimination on the basis of sex, race, skin color, ethnicity or social origin, genetic characteristics, language, religion, worldview, political or other views, national minority, property status, birth, disability, age or other personal or social circumstances is prohibited.
Article 30. Equality between women and men
Women and men are legally equal.
One of the goals set out in Article 86 is also noteworthy.
Article 86. The main objectives of the state policy
The main objectives of the state policy in the economic, social and cultural spheres are:
…
4) promotion of de facto equality between women and men;
According to experts, the amendments to the Constitution are based not only on the idea of establishing equality between women and men, but also on the creation of mechanisms for the realization of equal rights, which raises the issue of equal opportunities. Thus, if Article 30 establishes equality between women and men, then the need for equality of opportunity arises under Article 86, when the main goal of state policy is to “promote the de facto equality between women and men.” In this regard, the provision enshrined in the Constitution, according to which the government is obliged to submit a report to the National Assembly every year and address the mechanisms established for the de facto provision of fundamental rights, is reflected.
