The Armenian government adopted its National Plan of Action on the Improvement of Women's Situation and the Enhancement of their Role in Society in 1998-2000 on June 26, 1998. The plan consists of twenty-eight objectives, several of which address violence against women. Points that address violence against women include:  improving legislation for the protection of women who have suffered from crime; developing social-physiological consulting services for women who are victims of violence; and developing and implementing a training program for social workers to provide social services for women who are victims of violence.  In addition, the Armenian government filed its response to the Secretary-General's Questionnaire to Governments on Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. Armenia has not responded to the Questionnaire to Governments on Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and Outcome of the Twenty-Third Session of the General Assembly (2000) which was due on 30 April 2004.

In April 1997, the Armenian government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, began the project Capacity Building of the Gender Development Unit in Armenia. Armenia also created a Gender in Development Unit within the Ministry of Social Welfare to work with the Department on Women's Issues to ameliorate the status of Armenian women through the development of national programs and the promotion of gender sensitive legislation and national policy. Further, two Advisory Committees were created in order to work with the Gender in Development Unit and the Department on Women's Issues and to increase awareness of the status of women. The Government established a Migrants Service Point in March 2002 to aid in the creation and implementation of trafficking prevention programs. 

In May 2002 the position of Deputy Minister for Women's Issues in the Ministry of Social Security was created for the purpose of coordinating all the activities of other ministries with regard to women and to ensure collaboration with women's NGOs.

In September 2003, Armenia's Ministry of Social Security, the OSCE office in Yerevan and OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights organized a conference on gender equality. The main focus of the conference was on the 2004 to 2010 National Plan of Action of the Republic of Armenia on the Improvement of the Status of Women and the Enhancement of their Role in Society. The plan focuses on improving the status of women in social, cultural and economic spheres of life, as well as combating violence against women and trafficking. Contributed by Eduard Grigoryan, Women's Rights Center

Extracts from “List and Schedule of activities to be realized in 2007 in the framework of the 2004-2010 Republic of Armenia National Action Plan on Improving the Status of Women and Enhancing Their Role in Society”

Aragatsotn region
To organize a meeting of the law-enforcement officers of the region with the 8-10 grade pupils of 6 villages of Ashtarak region. The theme of the meeting: “Trafficking, the importance of prevention and awareness-raising” (September).

Vayots Dzor region
To make comments on the reasons and ways of prevention of the phenomenon of violence against women and girls and trafficking (in progress).

Syunik region
To hold discussion on the Protocol of 22.12.2000 of the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (April).

Gegharkounik region
To organize seminars (trafficking, STIs, “black market” of save pregnancy, beggary, prostitution) in the major communities of the region with the aim of raising awareness on actual problems of women (on a regular basis).

To show video films on trafficking with the aim of raising awareness of the population of the region (in progress).

Ararat region
To show video films on trafficking with the aim of raising awareness of the population of the region (in progress).

Kotayk

To establish Hot line for women and girls subjected to violence (in progress).

To collect information on women subjected to violence in the region in cooperation with appropriate police departments, health care and education institutions (in progress).

To organize counseling with the aim of assisting women subjected to violence (in progress).

To organize seminars on the theme “International documents on HIV/AIDS and trafficking prevention” with the aim of raising awareness of women (within the year).

Compiled from: “List and schedule of activities to be realized in 2007 in the framework of the 2004-2010 Republic of Armenia National Action Plan on Improving the Status of Women and Enhancing Their Role in Society”, 10 May 2007, (Unofficial translation)

Extracts from

“Information on activities realized in 2006 in the framework of the 2004-2010 Republic of Armenia National Action Plan on Improving the Status of Women and Enhancing Their Role in Society”

Gegharkounik region
Activity
With the aim of raising awareness on the present problems of women to organize seminars (the phenomenon of trafficking, STIs, “black market” of save pregnancy, beggary, prostitution) for women of Gavar town, Tsovazard, Karmirgyugh, Gandzak, Noratouz communities.

Results
Seminars on the theme of “The phenomenon of trafficking in the region”, “Hygiene”, “Bad habits”, “STIs”, “Black market of save pregnancy”, “Beggary and prostitution as types of trafficking” have been organized for 94 women of Gavar town, as well as women of Tsovazard, Karmirgyugh, Gandzak, Noratouz communities.

Activity
In order to raise the legal awareness of women to organize seminars devoted to International documents related to Labor legislation and ways of preventing trafficking.

Results
The women of the region were informed about the Results by the authorities aimed at prevention of trafficking and implementing punishments.
Seminars of the themes of “RA Labor Legislation”, “Special rights and responsibilities of women in the workplace”, “The order of termination of labor contracts” were organized.
Seminar-trainings on the themes of “The order and requirements of filling in labor migration documents” and “Issues of safety, prevention of trafficking” were organized.

Activity
With the aim of raising awareness of the population of the region to show video films on the theme of trafficking (in progress).

Results
With the assistance of the community “Kyavar” TV company broadcast “Trafficking, trade in persons” video film.
“Asparez” program of the TV company organized a live broadcast on the theme of “What are the reasons for trafficking and how to avoid it”. Narine Rshtouni, en OSCE expert was the guest of the broadcast. The TV company has broadcast “Slaves of sex industry” video film, provided by Internews NGO.

Activity
To collect data on women subjected to violence in the region. With this aim to organize researches in the Police, Court, health care institutions, schools, kindergarten.

Results
In cooperation with the Police data on women subjected to violence was obtained; joint discussions were organized.

Activity
To establish counseling centers with a psychologist, doctor, lawyer, sociologist to assist women subjected to violence.

Results
Relevant staff members of Children protection department by marzpetaran have provided women subjected to violence with counseling.

Shirak region
Activity
To study the work done in the region aimed at prevention of violent acts, create necessary database.

Results
A database of violent act has been created.

Activity
Establish Hot Line for providing victims of violence with emergency assistance.

Results
24-hour Hot Line (3-45-04) has been created.

Activity
Enable women subjected to violence to receive free assistance at polyclinics.

Results
Permanent assistance for women subjected to violence is available at polyclinics.

Activity
With the help of the Media publish materials on the themes of “Domestic Violence” and “No to violence”.

Results
Seminars on the topics of “Recognition of violence”, “Women’s Rights”, “Society’s attitude and changes in the behavior” have been organized, in cooperation the NGOs work on counteracts to violent acts has been organized, a series of broadcasts (10 programs) on the topics of “The phenomenon of trafficking in the region of Shirak”, “Trafficking as violation of rights” has been prepared.

Aragatsotn region
Activity
To present violence defining system, included in the statistical reports, to the attention of organization through news, organization of counseling and discussions.

Results
The information has been presented during counseling.

Compiled from: “Information on activities realized in 2006 in the framework of the 2004-2010 Republic of Armenia National Action Plan on Improving the Status of Women and Enhancing Their Role in Society” , 10 May 2007, (Unofficial translation)

For questions or comments regarding this  page, please contact Women's Rights Center at wrcarm@arminco.com