YEREVAN (A.W.)—The United Nations (UN) Armenia office released a statement on Nov. 28, strongly condemning recent cases of violence in the country. The statement particularly focuses on two cases of domestic violence that occurred over two days in Shengavit and Yerevan.
In the statement, the UN also calls on the government to adopt a law on domestic violence as a legal protection mechanism.
The statement can be read in its entirety below.
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The United Nations in Armenia strongly condemns the recent cases of violence against women in Yerevan and widely reported by media and social networks. In one instance, on Nov. 25, a 37-year-old woman was fatally wounded by her partner in Shengavit administrative district, while in another case, on Nov. 26, a woman was brutally beaten by her spouse during the day on Teryan Street in front of many passersby.
It is a brutal and sad irony that this happened during the days when the United Nations, together with international partners, national authorities and civil society, is observing the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, a campaign that runs annually from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10.
Stopping domestic violence, which is a serious violation of human rights, and bringing perpetrators to justice must be a priority not only for law-enforcement bodies, but for each and every citizen in our society. Indifference is as unacceptable as the crime itself, and the United Nations is determined to play its own part by ensuring that such cases are not left unpunished.
These cases once again prove the urgency of adopting the Law on Domestic Violence, and we urge our partners, the Government and the Parliament of Armenia, to bring this legal protection mechanism to life as soon as possible. Any further delays may cost more lives.
UN Armenia Office
