National Conference on “Domestic Violence in Armenia:  Challenges and Opportunities”

On 27 May 2019, within the EU funded “Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Armenia” Project implemented by UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF, a National Conference on “Domestic Violence in Armenia:  Challenges and Opportunities” was launched. The event, co-organised with the RA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in partnership with the Coalition to Stop Violence against Women, was aimed at discussing the national legal framework on combating domestic violence, concurrent challenges and implementation.

Ms.  Zaruhi Batoyan, RA Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, H.E. Mr. Piotr A.  Świtalski, Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ms. Tsovinar Harutyunyan, Assistant Representative, UNFPA, Mr. Vigen Kocharyan, RA Deputy Minister of Justice, and Ms. Gohar  Shahnazaryan, Co-founder of “Women’s Resource Center” NGO,   “Coalition to Stop Violence against Women” NGO made welcoming remarks.

The conference started with a session devoted to the legal framework of domestic violence prevention and where do we stand on that. The session was moderated by Ms. Lusine Sargsyan, United Nations Population Fund, Programme Analyst.

It was followed by a session on the Law on “Prevention of Family Violence, Protection of Persons Subjected to Family Violence, and the Restoration of Family Cohesion”, and presented reflections on identified implementation challenges and gaps. The session was moderated by Ms. Gohar Shahnazaryanm, “Coalition to Stop Violence against Women”  NGO. The discussion reflected on the legislative gaps of implementation of the Law, identified by NGOs, gaps regarding the access to social services, implementation of the Law in the context of protection of rights of diverse groups.

The third session was devoted to the need for amendments of the “Law on Prevention of Family Violence, Protection of Persons Subjected to Family Violence, and the Restoration of Family Cohesion”. The session was moderated by Ms. Zhanna Andreasyan, RA Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

Ms. Zhanna Andreasyan, RA Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Ms. Tsovinar Harutunyan, Assistant Representative, UNFPA, and Ms. Gohar  Shahnazaryan, Co-founder of “Women’s Resource Center” NGO,   “Coalition to Stop Violence against Women” NGO, made closing remarks.

Source:  UNFPA in Armenia