Armenia has made important strides in aligning its legislation and policies with international standards to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. The Council of Europe supports this progress through technical assistance with legal reforms, advocacy, capacity building, and sharing best practices.

Since signing the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) in 2018, Armenia has taken key steps to harmonise its national framework with the convention’s requirements, although ratification is still pending.

To assess progress and inform next steps, a new study “Armenia’s path to ratification of the Istanbul Convention: Progress and challenges” was developed and published. The report reviews reforms to date, highlights remaining gaps, and offers recommendations to strengthen Armenia’s national framework in line with European standards.

This study was developed as part of the Council of Europe project “Ending Violence Against Women and Promoting Gender Equality in Armenia” (Phase II), under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023–2026.