Armenia has a long and meaningful history when it comes to women’s political rights. One of
the important facts that often surprises people is that Armenia is among the early countries in
the world that granted women the right to vote.
Women in Armenia received the right to participate in elections in 1918, during the short but
significant period of the First Republic of Armenia (1918–1920). At that time, many countries
around the world were still debating women’s suffrage, and some had not yet given women this
right. For example, France granted women the right to vote only in 1944, Italy in 1945,
Switzerland in 1971, and several other European countries even later.
So Armenia’s decision was truly progressive for its time. It showed that Armenian society valued
the voices of women and recognized their ability to participate in shaping the country’s future.
Women were not only given the right to vote, but also the right to be elected, meaning they could
become members of parliament and take leadership roles in public life.
This history is an important reminder that women’s participation in politics is deeply rooted in
Armenian statehood, not something new or borrowed. It highlights Armenia’s early
commitment to equality and shows that women have always had a rightful place in decision-
making.
Our project-based research led us to the Mughduzyan Art Center, where the Nairyan Vocal
Ensemble has been presenting the “100 Years Later” performance for many years, telling the
stories of remarkable Armenian women of the 20th century. The center features models of these
women along with their biographies. We wore their costumes, stepped into the early 20th
century, and tried to speak about women’s strength and achievements from their own
perspective.
These women are Shushanik Kurghinyan, Varvara Sahakyan, Zabel Yesayan, Diana Abgar,
Katarine Zalyan, and Perchuhi Partizpanyan.
This is a great heritage that must be passed down from generation to generation—to show how
progressive we once were, how deeply we valued human rights in general, and how highly we
recognized the role and significance of women, something that is still not fully realized today.