According to the "Sexual Violence Crisis Center", 164 cases of sexual violence have been reported in the last five years (2020-2024), 61 of which are a minor. Last year, in 2024, 43 cases were registered. About 85% of sexually violence are women and 140 cases. Most of the cases, 91 cases took place in Yerevan, and more cases of the regions were reported in Kotayk region, 9 cases in Armavir and Lori marzes.
April is a month to combat sex and awareness. Within that framework. On April 29, the Armenian office of the United Nations Population Fund and the "Sexual Violence Crisis Center" initiated "the issue of sexual violence in Armenia. Discussion and exhibition entitled "Early Prevention, Effective Protection and Proper Guidance".
The aim of the initiative was to present the main steps taken to prevent and respond to sexual violence, legal regulations, mechanisms and capacity building.
The exhibition presented 21 shutters of sexually abused people, which were released about the traumatic way to overcome the trauma.
UN Resident Coordinator Francois Jacob, RA National Assembly Deputy Member of the Republic of Armenia Anna Karapetyan, head of the RA Ministry of Health, Nune Pashayan, as well as other partners of state, international and non-governmental organizations.
"Today's event is also presented with stories of sexual violence, exhibition, as well as videos. In this way, we want to make the voice of the victims of violence, so that Lusine Sargsyan, the head of the Armenian office of the United Nations, said, "we are working with the Ministry of Health."
RA Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan also highlighted the coordinated work to overcome the problem. "Problems in this area are multi-layered. One of the priority is the lack of knowledge, skills and sensitivity within the professional community, which often leads to strengthening public stereotypes. The person who was violated as a result of these hardened approaches sometimes did not even realize that he was a victim of violence, he considered it normal or did not speak about what happened. This situation in turn leads to new crimes. It is especially painful when children have sexual violence, sometimes inside the family, by a family member, "said the competent structures. For example, we had a case when a sexual violence child offered to change the school, arguing that many people recognize him and later be a victim of pressure and targeting. "
Tatevik Aghabekyan, chairman of the "Sexual Violence Crisis Center", singled out three main problems related to gaps, cases, and lack of statistics and research in the field of sexual violence.
"We have worked with seven minor pregnant women, five of whom have gave birth, we had an adult beneficiary, who only learned during his childbirth pain that he was pregnant. In all these cases, we have not had the ability to interrupt pregnancy due to deadlines. I should mention that only one case is left in the family. And these are the only cases we have, but we know that we have more juvenile pregnant women, "said Ms. Aghabekyan, adding that the center has supported 294 people, 114 of which were minors.
The event was carried out within the framework of the Promotion of Human Rights and Strengthening National Institutions. The project is co-financed by the European Union and is implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, UN Population Foundation.
