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12-Hour Rally In Central Yerevan To Adopt Law On Domestic Violence

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  • 12-Hour Rally In Central Yerevan To Adopt Law On Domestic Violence

    12-HOUR RALLY IN CENTRAL YEREVAN TO ADOPT LAW ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

    10.02.2013 10:17 epress.am

    The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women in Armenia Tuesday
    delivered an open letter to the Armenian government, demanding it
    adopt the RA Law on Domestic Violence.

    The letter's signatories point out that on Feb. 11, 2013, the
    government did not consider it advisable to adopt the bill, ordering
    the inclusion of the provisions of the bill in other legal acts. Now,
    Coalition members are calling the government to act and fulfill
    its commitments, which are reflected in the national Against Gender
    Violence program and in several international instruments ratified
    by Armenia.

    The Coalition also hopes for RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan's
    direct support in recognizing Oct. 1 as the National Day to Combat
    Domestic Violence.

    In support of their claims, Coalition members, starting at 9 am on
    Tuesday, began a 12-hour gathering outside the government building.

    The need to recognize this day as the National Day to Combat Domestic
    Violence is tied to the case of Zaruhi Petrosyan, who died three
    years ago on Oct. 1, after being severely beaten by her husband.

    "This case, of course, was not the only case in Armenia, but it set
    a precedent, since it fostered the emergence of a discourse on the
    prevalence of domestic violence in Armenia, news outlets' coverage
    of domestic violence incidents hidden in our society, and increased
    public awareness of this phenomenon," read a statement earlier issued
    by the Coalition.

    Asked by an Epress.am correspondent whether the Coalition collaborates
    with political parties so that the adoption of the law is raised
    also in parliament, Society Without Violence NGO Projects Manager
    Anna Nikoghosyan said Coalition members try as much as possible
    to collaborate with MPs and decision-making bodies. Without naming
    specific names, Nikoghosyan stressed that there are MPs who are more
    favorably inclined toward the bill, while others do not wish to see
    the law passed.

    She said they don't want to get into politics but simply want the
    government to fulfill its international and national obligations.

    Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK Armenia) NGO President
    Mamikon Hovsepyan likewise said the Coalition does not set out to
    politicize or not politicize the issue. They simply want to achieve
    the adoption of a preventative law, one which would be beneficial or
    the whole society.

    According to a 2008 Amnesty International poll, about 25% of women
    in Armenia are victims of domestic violence, and most are unable to
    access to the court system, safe shelter, and means of recovery.

    According to the Armenian Police, in 2012, five women died as a result
    of domestic violence, leaving behind12 children. In the same year,
    there were 766 recorded cases of domestic violence, 621 of which were
    against women.

    According to official statistics, in the first nine months of 2013,
    three women died as a result of domestic violence, leaving behind
    six children.

    Between 2011 and 2013, women's rights NGOs received 8,012 reports of
    domestic violence on their hotline number.

    http://www.epress.am/en/2013/10/02/12-hour-rally-in-central-yerevan-to-adopt-law-on-domestic-violence.html

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