An interagency roundtable discussion on domestic violence perpetrator programmes in Armenia was held to address the importance of rehabilitation of perpetrators in preventing domestic violence and ensuring long-term impact and safety for victims. Effective perpetrator programmes focus on changing behaviour, taking responsibility, and reducing repeat offenses, making them an important part of domestic violence prevention.
This is the core objective of Article 16 of the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention, calling on states to create and support programmes that help prevent reoffending and promote behavioural change among perpetrators. By prioritizing perpetrator rehabilitation, Armenia is taking steps to develop structured interventions in this direction, and a major progress is the recent adoption of a government decree, which lays the foundation for a national programme of rehabilitation and treatment for domestic violence perpetrators.
To support this effort, the roundtable discussion brought together relevant state agencies and key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Police of Armenia, Ministry of Justice, Probation Service, General Prosecution Office, Investigative Committee, and NGOs that support victims and those that may implement perpetrator programme in the future. The discussion provided a platform for knowledge sharing and exploring necessary actions through the examination of international standards and best practice.
Additionally, successful models from other countries were explored to offer solutions on how Armenia can develop effective rehabilitation initiatives tailored to its national context.
The Council of Europe international expert Adelina Toplica-Badivuku shared insights on international best practices and successful intervention models. She highlighted that true intervention lies in shifting perpetrators' mindsets and thinking, as lasting behavioural change is key to preventing repeat offenses.
In her welcome speech, Deputy Minister Tatevik Stepanyan stated: "Breaking the cycle of violence requires rehabilitating perpetrators, and this demands collective effort. We highly value the Council of Europe's support in this process. This discussion is a key step toward exploring effective perpetrator programmes. Our goal is to make this one of the services of the Ministry, and we understand the challenges but with the right approach and co-operation this will be possible."
The insights gained from this discussion will guide the development of a comprehensive perpetrator programme tailored to legal and social context of Armenia and aligned with Istanbul Convention and international standards.
The event was organised by the Council of Europe as part of its Project “Ending Violence Against Women and Promoting Gender Equality in Armenia" implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026.