What suggestions were made by women’s NGOs on domestic violence bill?

The RA Ministry of Justice has drafted and published the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Domestic Violence victims” and related laws. The stakeholders concerned with the conflict resolution had the opportunity to make suggestions on the project. The Ministry also held meetings and discussions with representatives of non-governmental organizations to hear their views. WomenNet.am talked to Nona Galstyan, a lawyer from the Women’s Support Center NGO, who represents women’s interests in courts in a number of cases. The advocate presented the recommendations and comments of the Coalition to Stop Violence against Women on the draft law.

As a lawyer working in the field, I welcome the fact that the state is taking a substantial step toward the adoption of the bill. It seems that there is a desire to implement this project and introduce essential mechanisms in the field of family law, “said Nona Galstyan. According to the lawyer, it is good to introduce mechanisms for defining the victim’s defense mechanisms, official warnings, defensive decisions and urgent intervention. They will significantly ease the protection and support of victims.

Representatives of the Coalition to Stop Violence against Women believe that at this stage the state should realize that the law will not work without the resources. If there is a goal to implement the law, it should lead to the training of police officers, investigators and judges, the introduction of appropriate staff.

As to the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the drafting process, Nona Galstyan mentions that only a small part of the Coalition’s proposals has been reflected in this project. “Today, they invite non-governmental organizations and present a ready-made project, but we have made a number of suggestions that have not been included in the project yet. I think that organizations in the field have enough experience and resources to take their opinion into account. No matter how much we say it’s impossible to create a perfect law, but if you accept the recommendations of experienced organizations, that law can be close to being perfect, “says a lawyer specializing in domestic violence.

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