On June 6, the RA Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan participated in the launch of the pilot project of the Council of Europe initiative entitled “Combating and Prevention of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in Armenia,” the Human Rights Defender’s office reports.

During the opening remarks the Defender noted that the staff always receives reports on violence against women.

“Violence against women and domestic violence have direct and indirect effects on both the woman and the other members of the family. In many cases of domestic violence, children become a subject of dispute, and as a result their psychological state is being violated as well, influencing their development,” the Defender said.

Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Artak Zeynalyan, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan Natalia Vutova and other participants held speeches at the opening of the program for the lawyers and law enforcement officials who are engaged in cases of violence against women and domestic violence in Armenia.

The Human Rights Defender attached importance to the adoption of the RA Law on “Prevention of Domestic Violence, Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence and Restoration of Solidarity in the Family”. He noted that the staff will keep the law enforcement process in focus.

Lusine Sargsyan, Head of the Research and Education Center of the Human Rights Defender’s Office of the Republic of Armenia, as a co-trainer of the Council of Europe “HELP”, handed the graduation certificates to the investigators, prosecutors and advocates who successfully completed the training on “Violence against Women and Domestic Violence”.