YEREVAN. – A new USAID program launched in 2012 is designed to strengthen the parliament’s monitoring, representative and analytical capabilities.

Vice-Speaker of the Armenian parliament Hermine Naghdalyan on Tuesday received Shaun McNally, Chief of Party for the USAID parliamentary strengthening program in Armenia (SANAP).

The program plans to work with MPs and four standing committees. Representatives of the program are planning to hold a series of meetings and discussions with the female deputies. Shaun McNally noted that it will be effective to consolidate women deputies’ potential concerning the problems of children, family and women.

Hermine Naghdalyan welcomed the initiative and spoke about her efforts to consolidate women around various issues.  Despite the fact that women deputies are mainly elected on proportional lists, and thus are more eager to perform the party tasks, she added it is possible to unite them around issues of global significance. The results of a study on the involvement of women in political and other systems will be published within the framework of the program.

Support to the Armenian National Assembly Program (SANAP) provides technical assistance and works with committees and staff in the Armenian Parliament to improve internal legislative procedures, support institutional checks and balances through enhanced accountability and responsiveness, and ensure better public outreach.