Draft Law of Republic Armenia “On Domestic Violence”
Brief Information
In 2007, the Women’s Rights Center implemented the “Combat domestic violence in Armenia” project. The project consisted of three major parts:
- Investigation of the experience of foreign countries in the field of domestic violence legislation and coming up with policy recommendations.
- Investigation of domestic violence cases in police stations and courts to identify the gaps in the legal, administrative and institutional framework that address the issue of domestic violence and coming up with policy recommendations.
- Website update: Stop Violence against Women and National Monitor Project
In the course of this project, based upon the research, WRC elaborated the Draft Law of Republic Armenia “On domestic violence”. Thus, the project was successfully completed and has found its logical continuation. Beginning in November 2007, WRC has been implementing the project “Combating Domestic Violence in Armenia through Legislative Initiative on Domestic Violence” sponsored by Open Society Institute Foundation – Armenia and OSCE/ODHIR. This project is aimed at advocacy and lobbying of the Draft Law on Domestic Violence with the aim of pushing it forward for adoption by the National Parliament of RA.
Within the framework of this project, a working group of professionals was created. It consists of representatives of the Police, Ministry of Labor and Social Issues and Ministry of Health, as well as Judges. Three working group meetings have already been held. After careful analysis of all comments made by the members of working group, as well as comments of Cheryl Thomas and Mary Ellison, representatives of The Advocates for Human Rights (Minnesota), the final Draft Law on Domestic Violence has been worked out.
The roundtable, which took place on the 25th of April with the participation of OSCE and national and international organizations as well as state structures, concluded that promotion of the Law was necessary.
The project envisages two more roundtables, advocacy and lobbying training (to be conducted by The Advocates for Human Rights) and reciprocal study tours of relevant specialists from Armenia and Czech Republic.
Upon completion of the project, Women’s Rights Center plans to forward the Draft Law to the National Parliament of the Republic of Armenia.
Women’s Rights Center
Armenia
 |