Yerevan, 4 May 2017. On May 3-4, advocacy meeting and capacity development workshop on the topic of "Strengthening Multi-sectoral Response to Gender-based Violence in Armenia" were held at "Tigran Mets" hall, Yerevan Armenia Marriott Hotel.
Over 20 representatives of stakeholder institutions – psychosocial welfare, police, justice, healthcare and other – as well as phycologists, social workers, and representatives of civil society, international NGOs, UN agencies and donor community were present.
The issue of multi-sectoral coordinated response to gender based and domestic violence was at the center of these two-day events.
The ultimate goal is ensuring that the system responds as a whole to each concrete case of gender based violence, and that all stakeholders have the necessary skills and well know who does what.
The issue of multi-sectoral response also covered prevention of gender-based and domestic violence.
Mr. Vigen Kocharyan, Deputy Minister of Justice informed the meeting participants that the Government is committed to provide adequate legislation in the field of combating violence against women. The draft Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence is in the final stage, and will be presented for public discussion.
Mrs. Ionela Horga, President of the East European Institute for Reproductive Health, led the workshop. Currently, she coordinates the Regional Initiative on supporting the multi-sectorial, coordinated response to gender-based violence, introduced by UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, which covers 17 countries of the region.
The meeting and workshop were undertaken within the scope of "Studies, information dissemination and legal support to combat GBV in Armenia" funded by the EU and UNFPA, in partnership with UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office and the East European Institute for Reproductive Health.