Annex 2 to the RoA Prime Minister s 9 March 2015 Decree 178-A RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL ON ISSUES OF EQUALITY BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS 1. The Council on Issues of Equality between Women and Men in the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter the Council) was set up by the Republic of Armenia Prime Minister s Decree 1152-A of 19 November 2014 as a national machinery that shall coordinate the ensuring of equal rights to women and men in all sectors of the society s life. These Rules of Procedure set the procedure and terms for conducting meetings and for making decisions. 2. In its operation the Council shall be guided by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the laws of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Armenia President s orders and directives, the Republic of Armenia Government s and the Republic of Armenia Prime Minister s decrees, other legal Acts and these Rules of Procedure. 3. In its operation the Council shall be accountable and answerable to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. II. GOAL AND MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNCIL 4. The goal of the Council shall be coordination of implementation processes of strategic and tactical programs aimed at issues of equality between women and men in the Republic of Armenia and issues related to gender-based discrimination and violence and at their regulation in all areas of public policy and at all levels of public administration. 5. The objective of the Council shall be to secure, in close cooperation with civil society institutions, the implementation of the provisions of the Republic of Armenia Law on Ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities to women and men. 3
6. The Council shall review, at its periodically convened meetings, the following issues and make advisory decisions concerning them: 1) discussion of recommendations concerning policies aimed to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities to women and men; 2) discussion of findings of surveys and studies conducted by local and international organizations and formulation of recommendations; 3) discussion of gender policy-related official reports submitted to international entities; 4) coordination of implementation of the recommendations made by international monitoring bodies with regard to gender equality bodies; 5) discussion of individual issues as well as of urgent problems and phenomena related to ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities to women and men and formulation of recommendations. 7. Besides the above-mentioned issues, with a view to effectively organizing activities aimed to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities to women and men the Council shall review and make decisions on international, regional and inter-ministerial cooperation, on conducting relevant studies and on other matters related to issues of equality between women and men. 8. The Council shall review and evaluate the summary reports drawn up by the country s central executive bodies on State programs that aim to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities to women and men. If necessary, the Council shall recommend that thematic reports on individual issues be submitted. The evaluations made on the basis of summary reports and thematic reports shall be used for drawing up and implementing programs and activities that aim to improve State policies in this area. 9. The Working Group, which has been set up with a view to organizing current activities of the Council, shall prepare and submit to the Council for review the relevant materials related to issues that fall under the competence of the Council. 10. To study individual issues and/or other urgent issues in the field of equal rights and equal opportunities the Council shall be in a position to set up temporary thematic groups upon recommendations and with participation of specialists as well as representatives of the business community, international organizations and NGOs who are not Council members. 4
III. ORGANIZATION OF COUNCIL ACTIVITIES 11. The Council s composition and rules of procedure shall be approved by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. 12. The Council shall be composed of a Chairperson, members and a Secretary who take part in the Council s activities on a pro bono basis. 13. The Council shall organize its activities through meetings that shall be convened by the Chairperson of the Council as needed but not less than once every four months. When needed, on-demand meetings can be convened on the initiative of one-third of the Council members. 14. The Council shall have an option of organizing its activities on-line. The activities in an on-line format shall be organized in the periods in-between the meetings with a view to holding meetings most effectively and to making efficient decisions. 15. The Social Affairs Department of the Republic of Armenia Government shall be in charge of organizing Council activities on-line. Based on direct discussions and on-line exchange of information and ideas with the Council members and on the synthesis of the Council members opinions about propositions, the Social Affairs Department shall submit the Council meeting agenda to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia for approval, while also getting an agreement on the day and hour of the meeting, candidacies of invitees, the format for discussing issues (presentations, joint production of draft decisions, etc.). The meeting agenda and the list of participants shall be posted on the official web-site of the Government of the Republic of Armenia (http://gov.am/am/councils), at least 3 days prior to the meeting. 16. The Council meetings shall be deemed competent if attended by more than half of the Council members. 17. The Council meetings shall be chaired by the Chairperson of the Council or, upon his/her instructions, by a Council member. 18. The Council decisions shall be made by an open majority vote of the meeting participants. In case of a tie vote, the Council Chairperson s vote shall be decisive. 19. The Council meeting agenda shall be made up and provided together with relevant materials to Council members, at least 2 days prior to the meeting. 5
20. Each Council member shall have the power to submit, at least 5 days prior to the meeting, to the Council Secretary, a proposition to place a certain issue on the agenda. 21. Representatives of international organizations, NGOs and business community as well as of foreign countries diplomatic missions and consular offices accredited in Armenia shall have the right to submit, at least 5 days prior to the Council meeting, to the Council Secretary, a proposition to place a certain issue on the agenda. 22. The Council meetings shall begin with the approval of the agenda and with a report on the implementation status of the decisions made at the previous meeting. 23. The decisions of the Council shall be signed by the Council Chairperson. 24. The Head and Secretary of the Working Group shall attend, while invited representatives of international organizations, NGOs and business community as well as of foreign countries diplomatic missions and consular offices accredited in Armenia, shall have the right to attend the Council meetings as non-voting participants. IV. CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL 25. The Chairperson of the Council shall: 1) head the Council activities; 2) set the date and venue of the upcoming Council meeting and approve the agenda of the meeting; 3) convene and conduct Council meetings; 4) approve the composition and rules of procedure of the Working Group set up with a view to organizing pending activities of the Council; 5) represent the Council in the relations with other bodies and organizations. V. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL 26. Members of the Council: 1) shall have the right: a. to put forth issues for discussion by the Council, 6
b. to make recommendations concerning the Council activities as well as the issues placed on the meeting agenda, c. to present a separate opinion about the Council decisions, d. to familiarize themselves with the minutes of the Council meetings; 2) shall have an obligation: a. to participate in the Council meetings, b. to carry out the Council decisions and the tasks assigned by the Council Chairperson. VI. SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL 27. The Secretary of the Council shall: 1) take the minutes of the Council meeting and draft the Council decisions; 2) prepare materials relevant for the Council meeting agenda and organize the provision of those materials to the Council members; 3) monitor the implementation of the Council decisions and report on their implementation status at the Council meetings; 4) manage the paperwork related to the Council activities; 5) carry out the tasks assigned by the Council and its Chairperson. VII. TERMINATION OF THE OPERATION OF THE COUNCIL 28. The operation of the Council shall be terminated by the decision of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. Minister-Chief of Staff of the Republic of Armenia Government D. Harutyunyan 7