DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ONE OF ARMENIA’S MOST SERIOUS ISSUES, SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER

03.11.2015 16:12 epress.am

Domestic violence is widespread in Armenia, wrote the Council of
Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, in his summary
report following his visit to Armenia from 5 to 9 October, 2014,
criticizing the practice of violating women’s rights and observing
the disadvantaged situation of women in the country. Muiznieks notes
that in some instances of domestic violence women have died; 7 deaths
were registered in 2013, 12 in 2014.

Citing the NSS and UNFPA’s survey, the report noted that 8.9% of
Armenian women have been subjected to at least one form of physical
violence by their partners, mostly in the home.

25% of women report at least one form of psychological violence,
while 3.3% have testified that they have been subject to sexual
violence by their intimate partner. 61.7% of those surveyed endured
some form of controlling behavior by an intimate partner through
restricting contacts with family and friends, controlling movement
or any undertaking outside the household, or making a woman seek
permission for accessing health services. The survey also tackles forms
of economic violence against women such as economic disempowerment,
including economic deprivation (e.g. withholding of money, confiscation
of earnings and savings, forbidding a woman to work).

The Human Rights Commissioner also noticed that the phenomenon of
prenatal sex selection in preference to boys over girls testifies to
the presence of gender bias. Forced abortions are considered a form of
psychological violence and a clear manifestations of the disadvantaged
situation of women and gender inequality in Armenian society.

The commissioner notes that Armenia’s authorities are not implementing
the proper steps to solve the problems. “A number of political
leaders, including parliamentarians, have denied the problem of
domestic violence in Armenia and even justified it in some cases,”
writes the commissioner.

“The Armenian criminal legislation does not include a specific offence
of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, and does
not address prevention, protection and prosecution issues. Crimes
of domestic violence may be prosecuted under other, more general,
provisions of the Armenian Criminal Code, such as assault, battery,
bodily harm and murder.

However, some forms of violence against women are not specifically
criminalised, such as rape by a husband or intimate partner, and
forced abortion. No distinction is drawn in the criminal legislation
between strangers or family members perpetrating violent crimes,”
stated the report.

Muiznieks also called on the Armenian authorities to ratify the Council
of Europe’s Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against
Women and Domestic Violence. The commissioner stated in his report,
that he was informed by government officials that Armenia needs time
to asses if the convention is compatible with Armenian legislation,
as well as, the financial resources necessary.