Journalists from four Armenian TV channels and ten online and print media agencies gathered for the two-day training seminar to discuss the principles of media reporting on the topics of violence against women and domestic violence. Through participatory training methods, the seminar discussed gender inequality as one of the key drivers of violence against women, the role of media in raising awareness, the sensitive technics of interviewing victims/survivors of violence, the use of background information and statistics to present violence against women as a societal problem rather than as an individual personal tragedy, among other topics. Armenian media and legal experts also discussed the existing national legislation, policies and practices including national statistics and the experience of Armenian civil society in providing support to women victims and survivors of domestic violence.

“Now I can present stories about women and men that challenge stereotypes and prompt debate on gender issues from a human rights perspective”, Sofia Zakharyan from an online media outlet said at the end of the training.

Iliana Balabanova, co-founder and President of the Bulgarian Platform of the European Women’s Lobby and facilitator of this training presented international standards related to violence against women and domestic violence, including the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

This training for journalists was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe project “Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in Armenia” and in partnership with the Human Rights Defender’s Office of Armenia.

Arman Tatoyan, Human Rights Defender of Armenia, stressed in his opening remarks: “we support the economic development of women through various programmes, as social conditions play a significant role as causes of the violence. Active involvement of women in the country's socio-economic life and decision-making processes is in the public interest. From this point of view, the role of the media is important as they have an important mission to break stereotypes”.