Epress.am News from Armenia
The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women in Armenia Tuesday delivered an open letter to the Armenian government, demanding it adopt the RA Law on Domestic Violence.
The letter's signatories point out that on Feb. 11, 2013, the government did not consider it advisable to adopt the bill, ordering the inclusion of the provisions of the bill in other legal acts. Now, Coalition members are calling the government to act and fulfill its commitments, which are reflected in the national Against Gender Violence program and in several international instruments ratified by Armenia.
The Coalition also hopes for RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan's direct support in recognizing Oct. 1 as the National Day to Combat Domestic Violence.
In support of their claims, Coalition members, starting at 9 am on Tuesday, began a 12-hour gathering outside the government building.
The need to recognize this day as the National Day to Combat Domestic Violence is tied to the case of Zaruhi Petrosyan, who died three years ago on Oct. 1, after being severely beaten by her husband.
"This case, of course, was not the only case in Armenia, but it set a precedent, since it fostered the emergence of a discourse on the prevalence of domestic violence in Armenia, news outlets' coverage of domestic violence incidents hidden in our society, and increased public awareness of this phenomenon," read a statement earlier issued by the Coalition.
Asked by an Epress.am correspondent whether the Coalition collaborates with political parties so that the adoption of the law is raised also in parliament, Society Without Violence NGO Projects Manager Anna Nikoghosyan said Coalition members try as much as possible to collaborate with MPs and decision-making bodies. Without naming specific names, Nikoghosyan stressed that there are MPs who are more favorably inclined toward the bill, while others do not wish to see the law passed.
She said they don't want to get into politics but simply want the government to fulfill its international and national obligations.
Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK Armenia) NGO President Mamikon Hovsepyan likewise said the Coalition does not set out to politicize or not politicize the issue. They simply want to achieve the adoption of a preventative law, one which would be beneficial or the whole society.
According to a 2008 Amnesty International poll, about 25% of women in Armenia are victims of domestic violence, and most are unable to access to the court system, safe shelter, and means of recovery.
According to the Armenian Police, in 2012, five women died as a result of domestic violence, leaving behind12 children. In the same year, there were 766 recorded cases of domestic violence, 621 of which were against women.
According to official statistics, in the first nine months of 2013, three women died as a result of domestic violence, leaving behind six children.
Between 2011 and 2013, women's rights NGOs received 8,012 reports of domestic violence on their hotline number.
