Within the framework of the “Combating Domestic Violence in Armenia through Legislative Initiative on Domestic Violence” project,  the Women’s Rights Center organized a roundtable discussion on the Draft of RA Law on Domestic Violence on 25 April 2008 at the Armenia-Marriott Hotel.

             Fifty-one representatives from Ministry of Social and Labor Issues of RA, Yerevan City Hall, Science, Social and Health Departments of Yerevan District Communities, international and non-governmental organizations participated in the roundtable discussion.

The President of the Women’s Rights Center NGO, Susanna Vardanyan, and Civil Society Program Coordinator of Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia, Naira Altunyan, welcomed participants. Ms. Vardanyan briefly presented general activities of the Women’s Rights Center, particularly activities of the National Hot Line Service, Women’s Support and Drop-in Center, Shelter and information about the domestic violence situation in Armenia. She mentioned that in the course of the above-mentioned project, WRC has elaborated a Draft of RA Law on Domestic Violence, and currently the WRC Working Group, which consists of professionals dealing with domestic violence issues, is working on development

of the draft law.

Research Associate of the Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis of American University of Armenia Ani Dallakyan presented a Summary of Major Findings from “Domestic Violence and Abuse of Women in Armenia,” a report on a nationwide survey which was conducted in 2007 by the order and support of the WRC. According to the survey, about 66 percent of Armenian women experienced psychological abuse, 16 percent moderate physical abuse, 12 percent severe physical abuse and 5 percent sexual harassment. The full version of the Survey is available on the WRC Web site: www.wrcorg.am or from the WRC office.

Psychologist of the Women’s Rights Center Tsovik Karapetyan presented information about the domestic violence situation in Armenia according to WRC Women’s Support and Drop-in Center and National Hot Line Service statistics, by which the National Hot Line Service received 764 calls and the Women’s Support and Drop-in Center registered 652 visits in the year of 2007.

WRC Working Group member Artur Poghosyan presented international experience on domestic violence legislation and RA Domestic Violence Draft Law.

After the presentations, active discussions

were conducted among the roundtable participants. They all encouraged WRC’s initiative of the Armenian Domestic Violence Draft Law elaboration. Staff members of Health and Social Departments of the Yerevan District Communities emphasized the importance of cooperation between WRC and District Communities in the process of combating domestic violence and proposed to work out mechanisms for future cooperation.      

            Expert of the OSCE Yerevan Office Erik Threlkeld also offered his thanks for this type of initiative and strongly encouraged cooperation with the police.   

            At the end of the meeting, Gender Officer of OSCE/ODIHR Warsaw Nana Kalandadze welcomed participants, made a call for cooperation and presented her comments to the draft law.  

            Roundtable participants agreed upon the existence of the phenomena of domestic violence in Armenia and the necessity of having a separate law on domestic violence. They encouraged once again the initiative of WRC and expressed their readiness for cooperation.

             In the scope of the above-mentioned project, 2 additional roundtables, public hearings, and a press conference are planned. 

           

Araxia Khachartyan

Project Assistant

WRC