Domestic violence in Armenia is surfacing more and more and has reached almost epidemic proportions. Violence against women has been kept taboo for many years and society thinks that families should solve their own problems and not deal with this issue on a national level. We cannot keep the silence anymore as domestic violence has risen sharply affecting the well being of women and children. Unfortunately besides the NGOs there is little support for victims of violence and the legislature to protect them and severely punish the abuser is still absent in Armenia.
These days the Coalition Against Violence Towards Women is working to protect and help the latest victim of domestic violence: 25 year old Astghik Ghazaryan, was stabbed several times by her husband right in the Shengavit City building (while applying for a divorce) because she dared to change her cell phone number. She was rushed to the hospital and after going through several surgeries, doctors were able to save her life. She has two children and is struggling to raise them alone.
In a separate case, the police of Malatia-Sepastia informed that 73-year old men knifed his wife, fortunately not critically.
Women facing serious and dangerous abuse have almost nowhere to go and be protected, as services are limited. The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women is urging the community to call the following numbers in case of domestic violence or other kinds of abuse against women to get help before it becomes too late to save lives:
For Domestic Violence:
0 800 80 850
010 54 28 28
010 44 07 40
For Sexual Assault and Harassment:
0 800 01 280
For Trafficking:
0 800 50 558
0 800 80 801
Violence against women is a crime and we need to stop it together!
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