Epress.am News from Armenia
"Women are not donkeys — donkeys are beaten, not women." Residents of the village of Gavar said this and made other such arguments during an informal survey on violence against women conducted by civil society activists.
The survey was conducted after the last hearing on May 20 in the case of Hasmik Khachatryan. The cases is being examined in the Gavar residence of the Court of First Instance of Gegharkunik Marz. Khachatryan's former husband, Sargis Hakobyan, is accused of beating his wife and torturing her for 9 years.
Some of the survey respondents said beating would be justified in the case of the wife's infidelity.
According to Gavar residents, there are few incidents of domestic violence in their village, but when such incidents happen it's clear for everyone that the man who hit his wife has psychological issues and a need to assert himself (i.e. he has an inferiority complex).
An elderly woman said if a man beats his wife then God must punish him. Another survey respondent, a man in his 60s, said if a woman is "immoral" she must be beaten. "He did not let his family fall apart," he said.
"I don't consider beating right. If there is language, if there is comprehension, beating is a secondary or 10th [option]," said another man.
Young men and women spoke about gender equality, women's rights, and the unacceptability of violence in this day and age. School-age children in the video said beating is a violation of women's rights, and the man (who is doing the beating) should address the problem by talking, "not by raising his hand."
Asked if domestic violence is acceptable, a middle-aged man said,"It depends," and smiled. A woman of about the same age said, "We are against violence. Naturally, no one wants her husband to treat her that way." She found it right that the woman took the matter to court. "She is defending her rights," she said.
Many others also said stood opposed to violence, saying beating is out of the question.