Beginning in November 2007, the WRC of Armenia has been implementing the project “Combating Domestic Violence in Armenia through Legislative Initiative on Domestic Violence” sponsored by Open Society Institute Foundation – Armenia and OSCE/ODHIR. This project is aimed at advocacy and lobbying of the Draft Law on Domestic Violence with the aim of pushing it forward for adoption by the National Parliament of RA.
Within the framework of this project, a working group of professionals was created. It consists of representatives of the Police, Ministry of Labor and Social Issues and Ministry of Health, as well as Judges. Three working group meetings have already been held. After careful analysis of all comments made by the members of working group, as well as comments of Cheryl Thomas and Mary Ellison, representatives of The Advocates for Human Rights (Minnesota), the final Draft Law on Domestic Violence has been worked out.
In August of 2003, the Republic of Armenia adopted a Criminal Code that included prohibitions against trafficking. According the U.S. Department of State, however, the penalties for trafficking are not on par with those of equally serious crimes such as rape. Increased attention has been paid to the prevention of trafficking in Armenia with the government approving an anti-trafficking national plan for 2004-2006 in January 2004.
Armenia ratified the European Social Charter (revised) on 21 January 2004. Additonally, Armenia signed Protocol 12 on 18 June 2004 and Protocol 14 on 13 May 2004 of the (European) Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Compiled from:
Criminal Code, Republic of Armenia, (Draft dated 11 April 2003, Adopted August 2003) (HTML, 34 Chapters).
"Armenia," Trafficking in Person Report. U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. (14 June 2004). (PDF and HTML, 274 pages). Armenia section begins on page 118.
For questions or comments regarding this page, please contact Women's Rights Center at wrcarm@arminco.com