Only Once have Amendments to Armenia’s Sexual Violence Law Been Made, Says Lawyer

A number of representatives from local and international NGOs, civil society groups, as well as representatives from the police, the General Prosecutor’s Office, Yerevan City Hall, the National Assembly and different government ministries attended a public hearing and discussion organized by the Women’s Resource Center of Armenia (WRCA) on making amendments to Chapter 18 of the RA Criminal Code on Sexual Violence.

From Sept.–Dec. 2010, the WRCA took the initiative to lead a working group of lawyers and experts who studied Chapter 18 of the RA Criminal Code on Sexual Violence (Article 138-142) and make the necessary amendments to the existing law.

The initiative was motivated and mobilized following the Nubarashen #11 Special School criminal case of sexual abuse towards minors. As a result of the outcome of this case, it was obvious that there are some leniencies in the current law. Changes were crucial and urgent to ensure a fair trial for all victims involved in similar cases, which guarantees a just punishment of the perpetrators of sexual violence.

WRCA attorney Davit Tumasyan noted that only once have amendments been made to Chapter 18 of the RA Criminal Code, which was in 2003, and only in the section on punishment.

“There have been many cases in practice when different crimes were committed against sexual freedom and that did not have a logical outcome. When we speak of Chapter 18, we are not only speaking of legal norms, but also we’re dealing with morality. When the draft of this law was being developed, we were guided by those international acts which exist in this sector; we have examined also other states’ legislation,” he said. The attorney then presented those aspects of the law in which changes were being proposed.

The representative from the prosecutor’s office noted that officially registered sexual violence cases in Armenia in 2009 was 63; in 2010, 73, and mainly on article 141 regarding sex acts against minors. According to tweets sent from the WRCA account through the discussion, the prosecutor “thinks that this is very far from the reality and hopes that the changes will help more victims to come forward.”

Organizers noted that this was the first discussion during which the suggested changes will be considered and work will continue on the bill.