ARMENIAN WOMEN ‘VICTIMS OF ABUSE’

BBC NEWS
urope/7723069.stm
2008/11/13 10:27:49 GMT

Armenia is failing to tackle "pervasive" violence and domestic
abuse against women, according to a report by rights group Amnesty
International.

The group says studies estimate that "over quarter of Armenian women
have been hit or beaten by a family member".

It also warns that, according to some data, about two thirds of women
may have experienced psychological abuse.

The BBC has contacted the Armenian foreign ministry but has not
received a response to the report.

Amnesty calls on the Armenian authorities to provide support for women
leaving violent relationships, and to draft new legislation to combat
domestic violence.

Stigma of rape

"Women in Armenia suffer disproportionately from violence and abuse
at home and at work, but this is seldom understood as a violation
of their basic human rights," says Kate Allen, director of Amnesty
International UK.

"The preservation of the family unit comes at the expense of women’s
rights, their safety and even their lives," says Ms Allen.

Amnesty says its report, Countering violence in the family in Armenia,
looks at case studies and the background to social attitudes among
Armenians.

It is based on testimonies from the databases of Armenian women’s
organisations, reports in the Armenian media, and interviews with
some women.

It cites the stigma of rape victims and the reluctance of police to
investigate domestic violence cases as hurdles.

Amnesty calls for "a real sea-change in attitudes" across Armenia,
from initial protection for abused women with shelter, to the
criminalisation of domestic violence.