New law to prevent domestic violence in Armenia

After a decade of advocacy efforts, education and awareness-raising by the women’s movement, Armenia has adopted its first stand-alone law against domestic violence.

A group of Kvinna till Kvinna’s partner organisations coordinated the call for change by forming the umbrella Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women.

The new law is an important step forward: finally, violence against women is officially recognised as a problem. Until recently, it was simply seen as a “private matter.”

However, many women’s rights organisations are critical of the new law’s emphasis on upholding family values – rather than on protecting women survivors of abuse. The title of the law, for example, ends with the words “restoring harmony with in the family.” This phrasing is believed to be a direct result of conservative pressure.

On the positive side, many hope the new legislation will strengthen law enforcement agencies’ mandate to protect victims.

In the coming months, Kvinna till Kvinna’s partners in Armenia will focus on monitoring the implementation of the law and lobbying for amendments.