The Path towards Armenia's Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence

The Council of Europe project aimed at strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders involved in preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, protecting the victims and prosecuting the perpetrators of violence as well as advancing gender equality.

about the project

The project built on the achievements of the previous project “Preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in Armenia”. The Council of Europe focuses on providing information and knowledge about relevant European standards, in particular the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) and its implications for national policy and legal frameworks. This project has given timely support for the implementation of the recently adopted law on domestic violence in Armenia and paves the way for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in Armenia.

The project contributed to the following specific outcomes outlined in the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Armenia for 2019–2022:

Armenia is better prepared for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention
The Armenian legal and policy framework on preventing and combating domestic violence is in line with Council of Europe standards
Women victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence, including the most disadvantaged, have better access to justice and support services

The project's long-term impact aims that women in Armenia benefit from gender equality and protection against all forms of violence against women.

The project aimed to:

Enhance the knowledge of law enforcement and legal professionals, as well as journalists and other stakeholders on the law on domestic violence and European standards, notably the Istanbul Convention, as they deal with the cases of domestic violence and violence against women
Strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, public officials and social workers to apply European standards (notably the Istanbul Convention) as they implement the law on domestic violence and provide support for women victims of violence against women
Support gender sensitivity in education by assisting in the development of curricula, courses and materials for primary and secondary schools

Project publications

Training manual for police officers on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence English | Armenian

Training manual on preventing violence against women and domestic violence in Armenia (edited in 2022) English | Armenian

Training course on ensuring gender equality through the practice of judges, prosecutors and investigators English | Armenian

Guideline on gender equality and violence against women for Armenian journalists and media workers English | Armenian

Other resources

Podcast - Domestic violence in Armenia: its manifestations Armenian

Podcast - Gender inequality and gender-based violence in Armenia Armenian

Video - Preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence Armenian

For more project publications and translations in Armenian, visit the website of the Council of Europe office in Yerevan.

More information about the project

News

Back Police officers of Armenia enhance their knowledge on combating violence against women and domestic violence

50 police officers from the specialised division of the police of Armenia enhanced their knowledge on combating violence against women and domestic violence during two training sessions held on 12-13 May and 19-20 May 2022 in Yerevan.

The trainings aimed at improving the capacity of the police to effectively apply international and European standards on violence against women and domestic violence, provision of comprehensive response and protection principles, applying the victim-centred approach and avoiding double victimisation. Maro Matosian, director of Women’s Support Centre NGO and Armen Grigoryan, PhD in Law, defence attorney, “Investment Law Group” used interactive training methods to help police officers to enhance their knowledge and develop skills on violence risk assessment.

“Thanks to this interactive training and competent trainers we had a good chance to discuss the international standards in the area of domestic violence as well as the mechanism of application of those standards within national jurisdiction. We have police officers from different regions in this training, who shared their experience and learned the best practices presented. It was especially interesting to discuss and assess the risks related to the possibility of an escalation of violence and plan a comprehensive response and protection to victims of domestic violence”, indicated Hasmik Aleksanyan, Police Lieutenant Colonel.

The series of trainings were organised within the framework of the Council of Europe project “The Path towards Armenia’s ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence” in cooperation with the Police of Armenia.

Yerevan 20/05/2022