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12-HOUR RALLY IN CENTRAL YEREVAN TO ADOPT LAW ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
10.02.2013 10:17 epress.am
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.
http://www.epress.am/en/2013/10/02/12-hour-rally-in-central-yerevan-to-adopt-law-on-domestic-violence.html
10.02.2013 10:17 epress.am
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.
http://www.epress.am/en/2013/10/02/12-hour-rally-in-central-yerevan-to-adopt-law-on-domestic-violence.html