Compulsory Enforcement Service officers play a crucial role in executing judicial decisions, including those concerning child visitation. These duties often involve direct interactions with families, placing officers in situations where they may encounter signs of domestic violence. In such cases, officers have a duty to report suspected abuse and refer the case to the appropriate services for further assessment. Therefore, the ability to recognize indicators of domestic violence and make detailed and timely referrals—particularly to the police—is essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of those involved.
On May 16–17, 20 officers from the Compulsory Enforcement Service took part in a two-day training aimed at strengthening their understanding of domestic violence and its implications. The training focused on key prevention and protection measures set out in the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), with particular emphasis on their relevance to enforcement work.
Throughout the sessions, officers raised practical challenges they face in the field, highlighting the importance of inter-agency cooperation. Discussions focused on the need for clear communication among stakeholders to improve enforcement practices, ensure the best interests of the child during visitation, and promote accurate documentation and referral of domestic violence cases.
Deputy Minister of Justice Anna Karapetyan in her welcome speech emphasised, “Enhancing the knowledge and skills of all actors of justice system, including officers of the Compulsory Enforcement Service, in applying gender-sensitive and victim-centred approaches in the course of their duties—particularly when encountering domestic violence cases—is a key priority for the Ministry. We reaffirm our commitment to continued engagement in this area and express our appreciation to the Council of Europe for addressing this need through close co-operation, exchange of international best practices, and valuable practical discussions.”
This training was organised as a part of the second phase of the Council of Europe implemented "Ending Violence Against Women and Promoting Gender Equality in Armenia" project, implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026.