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.

News

Back In the shoes of Armenian police officers: a uniform for victims of domestic violence to rely upon

In the shoes of Armenian police officers: a uniform for victims of domestic violence to rely upon

As first-responders to domestic violence calls, police officers occupy a unique position to lead the response of criminal justice to domestic violence and violence against women. It is therefore useful to consider the perspectives of police officers themselves.

The perceptions of police officers of their own role in responding to domestic violence, the rapidness and effectiveness of the response and the challenges they face are of utmost importance to guarantee victims’ safety. The police officers need to realise of how crucial it is their commitment to address the problem thoroughly and understand that they are part of the solution and are called to serve and protect especially when dealing with the cases of domestic violence.

The Council of Europe project ‘Path towards Armenia's ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence has supported the production of articles on better understanding the context of police work and  challenges it face in dealing with domestic violence cases. The author of the articles is Sona Martirosyan*.

 

Whenever you enter a family, you must remember that you are the one whom the victim relies upon: Police Major Argishti Barbaryan: Man in uniform whom children are not scared of.

 link to the article in Armenian

 translation of the article in English

The weight and honour of shoulder straps: Lilit Jhangiryan, “social” police officer of Sisian.

 link to the article in Armenian

 translation of the article in English

Any type of violence is a red line, which one must not put up with and tolerate. Police Colonel, Edgar Petrosyan.

  link to the article in Armenian

  translation of the article in English

 

* The opinions expressed in these articles are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council of Europe

Yerevan 25/10/2022
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partners
duration

  April 2019 – December 2022

donors

Donors contributing to the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2019–2022 (Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, and Romania)

Video about the project

 

contacts

The project was implemented by

the Capacity Building and Co-operation Projects Unit at the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Division

 Larissa KIREEVA, Project Manager

together with

the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan

  Liana AMIRBEKYAN, Senior Project Officer
  Anna SAHAKYAN, Project Officer
  Knarik NAZARYAN, Project Assistant