National Assembly Deputy: Constant contact with citizens and access to reliable information can significantly reduce the impact of disinformation among the population

ArmInfo. The 6th meeting of the Eastern Partnership Working Group on Gender Equality was held in Stockholm, with Zaruhi Batoyan, Deputy Chair of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia's Healthcare Committee, speaking as a speaker.

According to the NA press service, the event, dedicated to women's political participation and leadership, was organized as part of a joint initiative of the European External Action Service, the European Commission, and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zaruhi Batoyan spoke at the discussion "Without Silence and Fear: Ways to Counter Threats to Women Political Leaders," which was also attended by members of the parliaments of Moldova, Ukraine, and the European Parliament. The discussion focused on how cyberattacks, exclusion from political processes, and security threats undermine women leaders' connections with the people they represent, and what steps can be taken to counter these threats.

In her speech, Zaruhi Batoyan shared her experience and that of her colleagues, highlighting the problems of disinformation, online attacks on politicians, especially women, and their impact on political participation. The MP emphasized the importance of creating an image of a proactive and trustworthy politician. "Direct and constant contact with citizens, open communication, and access to reliable information can significantly reduce the influence and spread of disinformation among the population," she said. Zaruhi Batoyan said.

She also emphasized that measures taken solely at the national level are no longer sufficient, as disinformation, coordinated online attacks, and external information influence know no borders and pose global challenges for all countries.

“We need to strengthen international cooperation, ensure a constant exchange of experiences and effective tools, and develop faster and more coordinated response mechanisms. The sustainability of democracy also depends on how well we can protect freedom of political participation without silencing people or creating a climate of fear,” Zaruhi Batoyan emphasized.