I INTRODUCTION

There is no simple answer to how to deal with domestic violence (DV) or prevent it. Legislation addressing the violence and the needs of victims is vital, but, in and of itself, insufficient. Punishment of perpetrators is important, but, in and of itself, insufficient. Services and support for victims are absolutely necessary, but require a complex and multidimensional approach.

In order to combat and reduce domestic violence it is necessary to think and act in a systemic way. Domestic violence happens in a system of different factors that function together to allow and even support such violence. Thus, it is a systemic problem and only when the system, and not just individual instances, is recognized, addressed and changed, will domestic violence be combated to a sufficient degree. Therefore, all parts of the system need to be considered and dealt with.

Experts call such an approach a multi-sectoral, coordinated response to domestic violence. That response requires government agencies to make legislative amendments and conduct relevant trainings, as well as to introduce a variety of community services and measures. The comprehensive response to domestic violence involves effective systemic work between communities and state authorities. When a

victim calls a hotline service or when police respond to an incident of abuse, different parts of the system should be immediately activated in order to ensure the safety of the victim and her children, according to their needs; accommodate them in a shelter if needed; support them; and hold the perpetrator accountable.

No single state authority or service can undertake all those functions in a reasonably efficient way. A number of social agencies, with appropriately trained staff, expertise and resources, along with state and legal services are needed. Each of the mentioned services should be prepared to respond to and participate in relevant ways.

However, Armenia does not have such a multi-sectoral system or coordinated responses and actions, neither at the community level nor at the government level. Therefore, it is necessary to begin by strengthening each part of the system and then working on mechanisms of coordination so that the state response to domestic violence itself becomes multi-sectoral.

Over the past decade, Women’s Support Center NGO (WSC) has focused its activities on preventing domestic violence and providing assistance to victims of gender-based violence, as well as advocating for necessary systemic changes. Concurrently, through its work, Women’s Resource Center NGO has gained crucial experience in issues of sexual abuse and harassment, particularly in regard to the causes and prevention of domestic violence and the protection of women’s rights. Throughout this paper we offer numerous evidencebased examples, based on the work of these two organizations.

These examples point out the existing gaps in the system. To address these gaps and existing challenges, this paper will provide recommendations, based on our experience and international best practices. Armenia needs to implement these best practices in order

to protect the victim and prevent domestic violence. Only in this way will Armenia start to combat domestic violence both at the state and societal level.