Armenian authorities intend to step up the fight against domestic violence

ArmInfo. Armenian authorities intend to intensify the fight against domestic violence. At a meeting on September 3, the RA government approved draft amendments to the law "On the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence and the Protection of Persons Subjected to Domestic and Family Violence" and a package of related documents.

Presenting the amendments, RA Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan noted that the main question is how the state intends to intervene in family life and what methods will be used to prevent domestic violence.

In particular, it is planned to strengthen the Criminal Procedure Code with relevant provisions. Domestic violence will become a separate type of crime, for which appropriate liability will be established. The package, as the minister noted, signals a change in the state's approach to these types of crimes. Another amendment concerns strengthening victim protection. Currently, according to current legislation, a statement from the victim is required for law enforcement agencies to carry out the necessary measures. Criminal proceedings can now be initiated at the first sign of a crime. However, reconciliation is excluded from this process. House arrest will be eliminated for suspects of domestic violence if the spouses live together. Suspects can be monitored electronically.

The bill proposes abolishing the warning as a protective measure and mandating completion of a rehabilitation program for perpetrators of domestic violence. The government, in turn, proposed placing such individuals on preventive police records even in cases where violence has been established but there is no immediate threat of its recurrence. Furthermore, the Cabinet of Ministers proposed applying urgent intervention measures if violence has occurred more than once within the past year, even in the absence of an immediate threat of repetition or continuation. Another amendment proposed by the government would prohibit a person sentenced to restricted freedom for domestic violence from communicating with the victim. The package also calls for mandatory video or photographic recording of police actions when responding to reports of domestic violence and the creation of a single toll-free hotline.

Separate amendments concern the use of electronic monitoring devices against perpetrators of domestic violence. It is proposed to require them to wear an electronic device that would allow for 24/7 tracking of their movements and ensure compliance with established restrictions. The Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that the possibility of using electronic monitoring as part of a decision on urgent intervention or a protective order was already envisaged by the 2023 amendments, but current legislation does not oblige perpetrators of violence to wear such a device. It is proposed to establish criminal liability for evading or refusing to wear an electronic monitoring device. The department believes that administrative measures are insufficient in such cases, as electronic monitoring should prevent repeated violence and ensure the protection of the victim. Electronic monitoring systems with GPS will also allow tracking of offenders' approach to restricted areas. The Ministry of Internal Affairs cited the experience of France, Canada, and the United States in justifying this initiative.