The overall goal of this project is to enhance the protection and promotion of women's rights in Armenia, with a specific focus on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, including its digital dimension, and promoting gender equality.

The project is implemented across two key complementary areas:

• Preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: with a focus on the Istanbul Convention and on the GREVIO General Recommendation No.1 on the digital dimension of violence against women.
• Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment: This area supports the integration of gender equality into educational curricula, enhance gender-responsive practices, and empower women, particularly refugee women and girls, to facilitate their active participation in political, public, and social life.

This will be achieved through:

• Strengthening policy and institutional frameworks:  to align Armenian legislation/ regulations with Council of Europe standards on gender equality and VAW/DV, including the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence known as the Istanbul Convention.
• Improving practices, capacities, and awareness: to enhance the knowledge and skills of authorities, legal professionals, public officials, educators, media, and civil society to effectively address VAW/DV, promote gender equality, and combat stereotypes.
• Supporting women's empowerment particularly refugee women and girls: to facilitate their active participation in political, public, and social life and to ensure their protection from violence.

By combining legislative support, capacity building, and awareness-raising efforts, the project aims to create sustainable and impactful change, ensuring alignment with international standards and local ownership.

The project will be implemented in close co-operation with Armenian national authorities, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders, with the Council of Europe’s local office to ensure that activities are tailored to the Armenian context.

  1 January 2025 – 31 December 2026

 Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

 Ministry of Justice of Armenia

 Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia

 Ministry of Internal Affairs/Police of Armenia

 Investigation Committee of the Republic of Armenia

  The Human Rights Defender's Office the Republic of Armenia

  Donors to the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023–2026.

The project is implemented by the Capacity Building and Co-operation Projects Unit of 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
 Eleonora MANUCHARYAN, Project Officer
 Knarik NAZARYAN, Project Assistant