A protest march against the ratification of the Istanbul Convention will take place on August 31 in Artashat. As the organizers of the initiative announced on Facebook, the march will start from St Hovhannes Church in Artashat at 11:30 and head to the square next to Ararat Governor’s Office, aiming to voice the threats of the Convention and oppose its ratification.

To note, the Istanbul Convention which is subject to ratification by Armenia protects women against all forms of violence against them and obliges states to prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence.

The document has triggered a debate among the public and expert circles in Armenia over what they say some of controversial concepts that do not serve the purpose of preventing violence, but rather jeopardize the national identity.