On 23 May 2024, representatives the Armenian National Assembly, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Investigative Committee, Court of Cassation, the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Labour and Social Affairs, Justice, Health, Education, Science, Culture and Sports and civil society organisations (CSOs) gathered to discuss recent amendments to the national legislation on domestic violence.  This discussion marked the initial step in a series of dialogues aimed at fostering further cooperation and knowledge-building regarding the amended domestic violence legislation in Armenia.

These amendments, which will enter into force on 1 July 2024, include clarifying existing definitions and introducing new ones to  align them with national criminal legislation and international standards, namely the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence.

Participants discussed practical implementation strategies, criminal and court proceedings, and the provision of victim support and protection.  They also explored the needed secondary legislative acts, changes in internal mechanisms, and enhanced interagency cooperation, including with support service agencies and CSOs.

The round-table discussion was organised under the Council of Europe project “Ending violence against women and promoting gender equality in Armenia,” in partnership with the Police of the Republic of Armenia.

“This discussion is crucial for preparing our officials to handle domestic violence cases effectively and to ensure smooth implementation of the legislative amendments. We are committed to ongoing discussions and cooperation to equip police officers with necessary internal regulations and mechanisms, working closely with all relevant agencies and CSOs to ensure effective victim protection,” stated Edgar Petrosyan, Head of the Department on Protection of Juveniles' Rights and Combating Domestic Violence at the General Department of Criminal Intelligence of the Police of the Republic of Armenia.