Armenia: State protection available for women who are victims of violence
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 16 March 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AMN42415.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Armenia: State protection available for women who are victims of violence, 16 March 2004, AMN42415.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/41501be72a.html [accessed 26 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Violence against women within the family unit is reportedly common in Armenia (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1877; Ishkanian Spring 2003, 17; MAHR Dec. 2000, 6); however, there is little data to support this assertion and social awareness of the problem remains fairly low (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1877). Various estimates report between 7.8 and 45 per cent of women face violence at home (Armenia Now 12 Dec. 2003; ibid. 13 Sept. 2002; USAID 2003; Country Reports 2003 25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 3). In addition, Armenia is a source country for human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1881; IOM Sept. 2001, 22-23; IWPR 15 Jan. 2004).
Current Legislation on Violence Against Women
The Armenian Criminal Code does not specifically criminalize domestic violence, sexual harassment or marital rape (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1871-1872, 1878; USAID 2003; Country Reports 2003 25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 3). Crimes that would otherwise fall into the aforementioned categories are tried under different sections of the law such as rape, assault and battery, illicit seizure of travel documents, pimping, prostitution and pandering, fraudulent marriage for "mercenary ends," extortion and coerced sexual intercourse (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1871, 1872, 1876; see also IOM Sept. 2001, 34). When individuals are charged with offences related to domestic altercations, the UN cites a report claiming the punishment is either a fine or 15-days imprisonment (27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1877). According to the UN, as a result of "traditional notions of marriage and of men as superior" marital rape occurs with impunity (ibid. Para. 1878).
A recent report by the Institute of War and Peace Studies (IWPR) noted that Article 132 of the Armenian Criminal Code outlaws trafficking and proscribes penalties of between one and eight years imprisonment (15 Jan. 2004). However, according to the report, the definition of the crime is vague (IWPR 15 Jan. 2004) and Country Reports 2003 reported that by February 2004, there were no reported convictions under Article 132 (25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 6.f). The Armenian parliament intended to debate amendments in February 2004 (IWPR 15 Jan. 2004); however, the Research Directorate did not find more recent reports updating whether the Armenian parliament amended trafficking laws in February or March 2004 among the sources consulted.
Complaints and Police Investigation
According to the researchers of the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (MAHR), violence against women "is frequently viewed as 'normal'" and therefore both women and men accepted its prevalence (Ishkanian Spring 2003, 17). Moreover, domestic violence is considered a private issue and there is a significant reluctance to discuss family problems with outsiders (ibid.; Armenia Now 13 Sept. 2002). The UN reports that victims often fail to report incidents of violence within the family because they fear additional physical harm, that police will refuse to help and return them to their husbands, or embarrassment (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1877; Country Reports 2003 25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 3). Sex crimes are difficult to report, which results in a low incidence of rape complaints, according to the UN report (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1879). Victims find reporting sexually based offences difficult since they must prove their claim by providing physical evidence of being beaten or coerced and proof that they "had absolutely no possibility of escape" (ibid.).
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported that it provided special training to Armenian police officers in June 2003 to assist them in effectively responding to cases of domestic violence (OSCE 27 June 2003). In 2000, MAHR argued that perpetrators of the vast majority of domestic violence cases are never prosecuted or brought to court (Dec. 2000, 6). The same report cited victims' claims that police fail to take complaints of domestic abuse seriously and actively dissuaded them from pressing charges (MAHR Dec. 2000, 20-21). Despite evidence that there was prevalent trafficking in 2003, Armenian courts prosecuted no cases against suspected traffickers (IWPR 15 Jan. 2004), and very few cases in recent years (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1881; IOM Sept. 2001, 35). According to information provided to the UN, when Armenian courts did convict, sentences were lenient (UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1881).
Support Provided by the State, State-Run Shelters
The government does not provide a system of support services or shelters for female victims of violence (MAHR Dec. 2000, 6; UN 27 Feb. 2003, Para. 1877, 1878). Country Reports 2003 stated that there was almost no free medical assistance in Armenia and counselling services were not available in most regions (25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 3). Likewise, the government provides few resources to protect victims of trafficking (ibid., 1881).
Support Provided by the NGO Community and Available Shelters
Armenian NGOs provide many of the services required by battered women, such as hotlines, shelters and advice centres (Armenian Forum 15 May 2001; MAHR Dec. 2000, 12-13). Some of the more prominent NGOs as dealing specifically with violence against women include the Women's Rights Centre (WRC), was described in 2003 as being "the most prominent and recognized NGO working on domestic violence in Armenia"(Ishkanian Spring 2003, 16). The WRC has 98 volunteers and operates branch offices in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Aparan, Noyemberyan, Gavar, Kapan, Echmiadzin, Armavir and Eghegnadzor (WRC n.d.a). While one source refers to a WRC-run shelter in Yervan (Ishkanian Spring 2003, 16), the Website of the organization makes mention only of a hot-line service that provides free psychological counselling, legal services and a support group (WRC n.d.b).
In addition, the Armenian Maternity Fund for Providing Assistance to Victims of Domestic Violence in Yerevan operates the Hope Crisis Centre in Yerevan (Armenia Now 12 Dec. 2003). The Hope Crisis Centre has a family center and a shelter, named "House for Mother and Child," that provide accommodations to victims of violence and their families (ibid.). Opened in 2002, Hope has counselled 566 clients and boarded 49 women (ibid.). A third organization called Ajakits (Helping Hands) runs a 24-hour hotline that services the Shirak region of Armenia (PeaceWomen n.d.). In December 2002 Ajakits opened a shelter in Gyumri that houses up to eight persons and is managed by a volunteer staff (Crabgrass Newsletter Feb. 2003). Finally, the Martuni Women's Community Council offers a shelter, hotline and legal assistance for victims of violence in the Gegharkunik region (NTRC 31 Jan. 2002). Protection is also available "if necessary" from the Armenian Caritas, Arevamanuk Fund and Tiramayr Armenian Nunnery, all in Gyumri (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Armenian Forum [Princeton]. 15 May 2001. "Experts Discuss Responses to Domestic Violence in Armenia." Armenia Now [Yerevan]. 12 December 2003. Naira Manucharova. "Broken Ties: Families Victimized by Domestic Violence are Offered 'Hope'." _____. 13 September 2002. Suren Deheryan. "Sign of the Times. At-Home Violence and Abuse on the Rise in Armenia." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. United States Department of State, Washington, DC. Crabgrass Newsletter [San Fransisco]. February 2003. Bev Ramsey. "The Evolution of a Women's Shelter." Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). 15 January 2004. Caucasus Reporting Service No. 214. Karine Tar-Saakian. "Armenian: Trafficking Scourge Unchecked." (Received by E-mail)
International Organization for Migration (IOM). September 2001. Trafficking in Women and Children from the Republic of Armenia: A Study. Ishkanian, Armine. Spring 2003. "Is the Personal Political? The Development of Armenia's NGO Sector During the Post-Soviet Period." Berkeley Program in Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies Working Paper Series. Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (MAHR), Minneapolis. December 2000. Domestic Violence in Armenia. NGO Training and Resource Center (NTRC). 31 January 2002. Armenian NGO News in Brief. Vol. 2, No. 29. "Unprecedented Phenomenon: USAID Directly Funds Local NGOs." Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). 27 June 2003. Gohar Avagyan. "OSCE Trains Armenian Police on Countering Domestic Abuse." PeaceWomen, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. n.d. "Armenia: NGO Contacts." United Nations (UN). 27 February 2003. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). International, Regional and National Developments In the Area of Violence against Women 1994-2003. Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Submitted in Accordance With Commission on Human Rights 2002/52 Addendum 1. (E/CN.4/2003/75/Add1) US Agency for International Development (USAID). 2003. "USAID/Armenia Gender Issues." Women's Rights Centre (WRC). n.d.a. "Women's Rights Center - Armenia - About Us." _____. n.d.b. "Women's Rights Center - Armenia - Activities." Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including:
16 Days of Activism in the Caucasus, Armenian Diaspora, Armenian International Women's Association (AIWA), CEDAW, Council of Europe, Dialog, Eurasianet.org, European Committee against Racism and Intolerance Report on Armenia (13 Dec. 2002), European Women's Lobby, Human Rights International, Human Rights Watch, NEWW, and World Learning-Armenia NGO Strengthening Program.
