Friday, May 31
♦ Breaking Taboos: Stories Beyond the Text
Many vital topics, from obstetric violence to premature births, palliative care to menopause, are often left out of the public discourse in Armenia. The importance of having honest conversations aimed at promoting understanding and awareness about these issues cannot be overstated. Featuring stories that challenge taboos surrounding these subjects is at the heart of journalism. Come and listen to the writers tackling these stories.
*Language: Armenian with simultaneous English interpretation
♦ Armenian Documentary Storytelling
Armenian documentary filmmakers have been changing the landscape of the genre in recent years, registering successes globally. This panel, featuring young documentary filmmakers, will delve into the evolution of the genre, exploring the challenges and the transformative shifts taking place in the current post-truth and post-war environment.
* Language: Armenian with simultaneous English interpretation
♦ From Above and Below
What does it mean to dedicate yourself to a story? Azmat Khan’s years-long groundbreaking investigation, “The Civilian Casualty Files,” exposed deliberate civilian deaths from U.S.-authorized airstrikes in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, earning her a Pulitzer Prize in 2022; journalist and author of “The Home That Was Our Country,” Alia Malek, has covered Syria’s unraveling since 2011, from inside the country to the many places Syrians have gone (including Armenia), winning the Hiett Prize in the Humanities (2016). These accomplished journalists will discuss the tenacity, patience and commitment it takes to get to the heart of a story.
*Language: English with simultaneous Armenian interpretation
Saturday, June 1
♦ Session for Local Journalists
Explore how firsthand experience gained by Armenian journalists through international exchanges and collaborations can enrich the media landscape in Armenia. Panelists, who have benefited from opportunities to learn from established news organizations abroad, will share insights and discuss the impact of experience-sharing on enhancing journalistic practices in Armenia.
*Language: English with simultaneous Armenian interpretation
♦ National Security and Capacity Building
In the aftermath of the 2020 Artsakh War, and particularly in light of the Azerbaijani incursion into Jermuk in 2022, it became evident that Armenia had to both rebuild its security architecture and change its thinking on security. Scholars and experts specializing in security studies and international relations will assess Armenia’s security landscape, discuss potential approaches to augment Armenia’s security capabilities and mitigate nascent threats, and provide data-driven insights on the ongoing recalibrations in Armenia’s security environment.
*Language: English with simultaneous Armenian interpretation
♦ Visualizing Realities: Creative Storytelling
From illustrations to VR and filmmaking, there are creative ways through which to tell compelling stories. Distinguished panelists will delve into their experiences documenting civil war, forced reeducation camps, and repressions, shedding light on the innovative and sometimes unconventional approaches to storytelling.
*Language: English with simultaneous Armenian interpretation
Sunday, June 2
♦ Culture Is (a) Right [CSN Lab]
Experts from Armenia and Georgia will discuss the complex dynamics of culture and media as crucially important dimensions for fostering resilience and democracy. They will reflect on the current situation in both countries, analyze the transformations of cultural life, talk about the perception of cultural rights within the societies, discuss memory politics, and finally — share how cultural rights and media narratives can serve as catalysts for reconsolidation and strengthening democracy in the region amid current challenges.
*Language: English with simultaneous Armenian interpretation
♦ Resilience: Whole of Society
When surrounded by aggressive neighbors, smaller democratic states evolve by integrating their social and governmental structures into a comprehensive security system, bolstering their resilience. This holistic approach, involving both state and society, strengthens their ability to withstand threats and navigate through crises. This panel, which includes representatives from the business community, IT sector, civil society and academia will look at the mechanisms through which societal structures can be mobilized and harnessed to increase resiliency both during times of peace and amid security threats.
*Language: English with simultaneous Armenian interpretation
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