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WOMEN ARE NOT MADE OF WOOL, EVEN IF SILENT

Politics

“Amnesty International” researchers are concerned about freedom of speech in Armenia and the situation created in the aftermath of the events of March 1.

“We have registered cases where journalists were beaten or their assets were damaged. We are also concerned about the issue relating to the freedom of holding rallies, which still exists even after the end of the state of emergency. What also concerns us is the issue of objectivity of the investigation and we call on the Armenian administration to be objective during the investigation,” said today researcher on Armenia Laurence Broers.

“Amnesty International” researchers met with journalists today to present the report on violence against women in Armenia entitled “There is no pride in silence: domestic and sexual violence against women in Armenia.”

“27 percent of 1006 women surveyed in Armenia are victims of physical abuse, 12 percent have been subjected to heavier abuse, 66 percent are victims of psychological abuse and 6 percent have been sexually abused,” they announced.

“Many Armenian men who have adopted the saying “Woman is like wool-the more you beat it, the more it will soften” remain unpunished due to the silence of women. According to experts, the topic on domestic violence is prohibited in Armenia and discussions are considered as an attempt to destroy the family.

“Women are silent and continue to suffer. The Armenian society suffers because we see more and more psychiatrically ill children,” said researcher on Armenia Laurence Broers.

According to the speakers, there are many preventive measures, but first and foremost it is necessary to pass a special law, which will persecute those who commit domestic violence, as well as create refuge homes and crisis centers for those women.

They called on Armenian authorities to raise the level of public awareness so that each citizen knows that domestic violence is a crime and violation of human rights. The researchers also argued that the legal system needs reforms due to some pressures on protesters. “Amnesty International” researchers informed that the police did not receive them during the drafting of the report and did not respond to the written questions. “The only ones who gave us information were the prosecutors, who compared what we had and said that most of the cases are not even raised,” said Laurence Broers.