News & Updates
Uniting Stakeholders to Tackle Domestic Violence in Armenia
Women’s Support Center together with Rights Center NGO organized a “Meet and Greet” event with the deputy minister of labor and social affairs, ambassadors, coalition members and survivors of domestic violence. We discussed progress and challenges in combating domestic violence in Armenia and listened to moving testimonies from survivors.
March 8
Strengthening Legal and Policy Responses to Violence Against Women in Armenia
On 24 February, in the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Ending violence against women and promoting gender equality in Armenia (Phase II)”, I had the pleasure of presenting key findings from the report I co-authored with Louise Hooper on Armenia’s progress and remaining challenges in the process of ratifying the Istanbul Convention. This multi-stakeholder discussion brings together state institutions, civil society, frontline professionals, and international partners.
The discussion highlighted important progress in recent years — including legislative amendments, developments in the Criminal Code, and improved institutional cooperation — while also pointing to areas where further consistent efforts are needed.
Our report provides a structured and evidence-based assessment of Armenia’s path towards ratification:
EN: It was also a great pleasure to briefly share insights from another report I co-authored with Cristina Oddone, focusing on the legal and policy framework of perpetrator programmes — an essential yet often underdeveloped component in addressing violence:
Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation and for the strong engagement of all stakeholders committed to advancing protection against violence in Armenia.
From Sergey Ghazinyan
February 24
WAVE Meeting in Vienna
WSC Program Director Anna Safaryan participated in a regional meeting of Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE) held in Vienna, Austria.
What the event was about
- The meeting gathered organizations and experts working on the prevention of violence against women and domestic violence.
- It served as a regional coordination and knowledge-sharing platform among WAVE member organizations.
- Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation, improving response mechanisms to violence, and sharing regional experience and good practices.
Why participation matters
- WSC’s participation helped present Armenia’s experience and challenges in supporting survivors of domestic violence.
- It also contributed to building international partnerships and advocacy efforts at the European level.
February 20
Interagency Meeting Reviews Use of Electronic Monitoring in Violence Cases
On February 12, a meeting of the interagency working group aimed at promoting prompt response to cases of domestic and household violence was held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The meeting was attended by representatives of state bodies and civil society organizations engaged in the prevention of domestic violence.
The agenda included issues related to the implementation of the Government decision “On the Application and Financing of Electronic Monitoring Measures, as well as on Establishing Procedures for Maintaining the Electronic Monitoring System Database and Accessing Its Data,” and the need to introduce relevant additions and amendments.
According to the head of the working group, Georgi Khachatryan, Head of the Professional Methodological Support Department of the Community Police Main Directorate, discussions in this format provide an important platform both for identifying sectoral challenges and for continuously improving the tools used to respond to cases of violence.
Georgi Khachatryan presented international experience regarding electronic monitoring measures, as well as the functionality and flexibility of the equipment used. During the stage of selecting the type of equipment, particular attention was paid to opportunities to reduce the risks of secondary victimization of survivors of violence.
Participants emphasized the importance of establishing clear criteria for the application of electronic monitoring measures.
The meeting also addressed issues related to the development of a risk assessment form for cases of domestic and household violence, as well as challenges encountered in the application of emergency intervention decisions.
By presenting their observations and recommendations, participants highlighted the importance of resolving the identified issues in order to make prevention measures and protection mechanisms for survivors of domestic violence more effective.
Meetings of the interagency working group will continue on an ongoing basis.
February 12
Privileges for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Zaruhi Batoyan
Today, the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly issued a positive opinion on my draft proposal, which suggests introducing exemptions from the payment of state duties in courts for individuals subjected to domestic violence who file:
- Appellate and cassation complaints against court decisions annulling a warning or an emergency intervention order,
- Claims for divorce,
- Claims related to the exercise of parental rights, including determining a child’s place of residence, establishing visitation arrangements, maintaining contact with the child, and participating in the child’s care, upbringing, and education,
- Claims to establish paternity,
- Claims to restrict or terminate parental rights.
Currently, exemption from paying state duties is granted to plaintiffs who apply to the court with claims concerning protective orders provided for under the RA Law “On the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Persons Subjected to Domestic Violence.”
However, practice shows that individuals who have committed domestic violence often challenge the protective measures imposed by the police — namely, warnings and emergency intervention orders, through administrative proceedings. Survivors of violence, in turn, are forced to appeal the judicial acts of administrative courts first at the appellate level and then through cassation, without benefiting from preferential conditions regarding state duty payments.
As a result, individuals already in difficult psychological and social circumstances due to violence find themselves in even more unfavourable and vulnerable situations.
Taking the above into account, as well as the proposals of civil society organisations working in this field, I have initiated a draft amendment to the RA Law “On State Duty,” which will be included in the agenda of an upcoming plenary session.
January 17