46 OF 100 WOMEN IN ARMENIA ARE SUBJECTED TO FAMILY VIOLENCE

Regnum, Russia
Nov 26 2006

According to a poll conducted in Armenia, 46 of 100 women have been
subjected to family violence, 67 were subjected to gender-based
infringement. UNDPA Resident Representative in Armenia Consuelo
Vidal made the announcement at a news conference dedicated to the
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
on November 25. According to her, most women were subjected to
gender-based violence did not turn to appropriate institutions
for help.

The UN representative stressed that despite the fact that in Armenia
women’s rights are protected by law and they enjoy equal rights with
men, but in reality they are subjected to violence in family, at work
and in society. To eradicate this evil it is necessary to change the
way of thinking in family and in society. UN institutions active in
Armenia have continued rendering assistance to find roots of violence
against women and conducting activity in eradicating the violence.

Consuelo Vidal also noted that since November 25 to December 10
(International Human Rights Day) in Armenia actions against
gender-based violence will be held.

At the news conference, an address by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women. It particularly says: "Fighting this scourge requires us
to change a mindset which is still too common and deep-seated. To
demonstrate, once and for all, that when it comes to violence against
women, there are no grounds for tolerance and no tolerable excuses. …

Together, we must work to create an environment where violence against
women is not tolerated."