On
June 11–12, a capacity-building seminar on “Domestic Violence against Children
and Minors” was held at the Human Rights Defender’s Office.
The
training was organized in cooperation with the Human Rights Defender's Office
and the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ)
The
purpose of the seminar was to expand and deepen the professional capabilities
and skills of the HRDO staff in the prevention of domestic violence and the
protection of children and minors.
The
participants were presented with international standards, legislative and
practical tools for responding to domestic violence cases, assessing risks, and
implementing preventive measures.
During
the event, experts from the Federal Republic of Germany —Ms. Christian Roch,
Director of the Memmingen District Court, and Ms. Dagmar Bethke, Head of the Mindelheim
Police Department — shared the experience of the German judicial and law
enforcement systems. They presented mechanisms for the investigation,
prevention, and provision of follow-up support in cases of violence against
children and minors within families.
The
event was opened by Ms. Nina Pirumyan, Secretary General of the Human Rights
Defender’s Office of the Republic of Armenia, and Ms. Nelly Tumasyan, Project
Coordinator of the Yerevan office of the German Foundation for International
Legal Cooperation (IRZ).
In
her speech, Ms. Nina Pirumyan highlighted the importance of holding such
professional seminars, emphasizing the importance of exchanging experience and
studying international best practices.
According
to her, the chosen topic is particularly relevant, taking into account both the
mandate of the Human Rights Defender’s Office in the field of children's rights
protection, as well as the legal complexity and sensitivity of the problems in
the field.
She
added that raising public awareness is also of key importance, as combating and
preventing such issues requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.
During
the seminar, Ms. Zhanna Hakobyan, Head of Department for Provision of
Convention Mandates of the Human Rights Defender’s Office of the Republic of
Armenia, presented the department's and the HRDO’s main directions of work in
the field of child rights protection, underlining the significance of
continuous training to ensure a more child-centered approach in daily
operations.
The
above is especially important, considering that compared to previous years, an
increase in the number of written and verbal complaints addressed to the Human
Rights Defender regarding violence against children has been recorded. In 2024,
the number of written and verbal complaints regarding cases of violence against
children was 97, while in 2023 was 67, in 2022 was 66, and in 2021 was 50.
International
experts discussed a number of important topics, including the legal foundations
of the protection of children and minors in family environment, the role of the
police and law enforcement bodies, mechanisms for preventing the threat of
violence at an early stage, cooperation between responsible bodies (police,
guardianship and trusteeship bodies), work with children after violence, work
with parents, and the need for education and training in the context of
violence prevention.
At
the end of the seminar, the participants also discussed possible directions of
cooperation, the importance of continuous deepening of knowledge, as well as
steps taken towards reforms in the areas of protecting children's rights and
combating domestic violence.
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