Armenia Strengthens Child Protection Laws as Cases of Domestic Violence Rise

In Armenia, many children continue to face domestic violence at home. Every day, new cases are reported, revealing the urgent need for stronger protection systems and better awareness among parents and communities.

One recent case in Yerevan shows how deep this problem runs. On October 11, a woman contacted the police to report that her 12-year-old son had been missing for two days. When police found him, the boy said he had wandered through different streets and slept outside because his father had repeatedly beaten him. He was a victim of domestic violence.

Unfortunately, this story is far from rare. In 2024, Armenian law enforcement registered 1,476 criminal cases involving violence against children. Over 1,000 of those incidents occurred in just the first six months of the year. Experts believe that many more cases go unreported.

According to Knarik Gharanfilyan, founder of the Family and Community NGO, many parents resort to violence because they lack basic parenting knowledge. “By helping parents develop those skills, we can significantly reduce cases of violence,” she said in an interview with CivilNet.

Gharanfilyan explained that violence is often hidden within families and that parents themselves may not fully understand how harmful their actions are. “In surveys, 70% of parents said they use violence against their children, but only 4% considered it a proper method of upbringing,” she noted.

For years, the protection system failed to work effectively. Victoria Ohanyan, UNICEF’s Coordinator for Access to Justice for Children, said that the older laws had serious flaws. “The efficiency was low for very objective reasons—there was no clear division of responsibilities between institutions, and referral procedures were not defined,” she said.

One major problem was that the community head—an administrative official without child protection training—was responsible for responding to cases. “Obviously, a community head is an administrative official, not a child protection professional. Professional units should operate under them,” Ohanyan added.

To address these shortcomings, Armenia’s National Assembly adopted a new law on October 23, introducing major reforms to the Family Code and the Law on the Rights and Protection System of the Child.

The previous law, adopted in 1996, had become outdated. The new legislation aims to create a coordinated system for protecting children’s rights and preventing violence. The key changes include:

• Appointing specialized social workers in communities

• Setting up a new monitoring and rapid response system

• Defining the roles of regional administrations and Yerevan Municipality

• Introducing the legal concept of “bullying” and establishing mechanisms to prevent and respond to it

• Requiring regular review of alternative care arrangements based on the child’s best interests

• Removing age limits for considering a child’s opinion in decision-making

Child protection expert David Tumasyan described the reform as “a first step toward protecting children from violence.” He noted that the new law redefines how different institutions share responsibility. “The roles of various actors will change, and all professionals—from community social workers to ministry staff—will now share responsibility for protecting children. Moreover, all institutions, including schools, are now required to report any cases of violence against children,” Tumasyan said.

Violence against children is not limited to homes—it can also occur in schools or go unnoticed by teachers and staff. In many rural areas, teachers may suspect abuse but choose to remain silent because the abuser is someone familiar—a neighbor, friend, or relative. This culture of silence allows violence to continue.

Schools are now becoming more involved in awareness efforts. According to Lilit Mnatsakanyan, Director of the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center, new programs help students recognize violence and know how to ask for help.

“At school, children can turn to psychologists or teachers. What matters most is who the child trusts. Sometimes children talk about what happened by telling their friends. These referral mechanisms and procedures must always be maintained,” Mnatsakanyan said.

She also emphasized the importance of properly trained social workers who can respond quickly and work directly with families. “It is crucial to evaluate how social service professionals respond and whether they are properly working with families,” she added.

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