The main goals of the center are:

• to prevent violence against women and children,
• to protect women and children from the violation of their right to be free from violence,
• to take steps leading to criminal prosecution for violent acts committed against women.

The Women’s Rights Center works in the sphere of violence against women in three main directions: prevention, protection and prosecution.  The center carries out activities such as the following:

• conducting of the researches, surveys, TV and radio programs, seminars, multidisciplinary trainings (in particular with the law officers), TOT, round tables, traings with doctors and midwives,
• “Crisis Center” work including 24-hour Hot line, Temporary shelter, including also Transitional Rooming with psychological, legal, medical and social assistance and protection in the court
• Women Support Group work
• training of women to new professions
• own publications and translations of other publications
• video film shooting on the theme
• work with Mass Media
• outreach and educational programs
• advocacy and lobbying in the framework of legislation and infrastructure
• creation of informational and training center on trafficking in human beings
• training with doctors (obstetricians and midwives) on domestic violence and reproductive health.

For more information about Women's Rights Center, please see the organizational profile attached below and the center's website here.

Susanna Vardanyan and Eduard Grigoryan of the Women's Rights Center will take the leading role in managing the STOPVAW country page for Armenia. Susanna has 17 years of experience working in the organization. She was the founder and the director of the Women's Club, which in 1997 was renamed the Women's Rights Center. In 2002, she received the Human Rights Award from the The Advocates for Human Rights.

The Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation–Armenia (OSIAF–Armenia) provides funding to the Women's Rights Center to carry out work on the National VAW Monitor Program. Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia pursues a range of projects including penitentiary reform, media and broadcast legislation, information activities, women’s rights, emigration, and election monitoring. The Foundation has also supported efforts to promote public debate on policy issues such as religious tolerance, emigration, and trafficking.

More specifically, OSIAF—Armenia has established legal programs that train lawyers in international law, examine the courts’ handling of corruption allegations, and address other policy issues. The Foundation has also helped facilitate education reforms, provided computers and Internet access, developed schools as local telecommunications centers, and increased access to information on education, human rights, and media issues--especially for students and citizens in rural areas.


 Women's Rights Center Organizational Profile  
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