Enforcement of Court Decisions in Cases Regarding Children (DAHG

of victims of domestic violence. The support centers will be the guarantors of the best interests of the child;

7. Establish neutral supervised child visitation areas run by specialists;

8. Establish specialized judges in domestic violence who will be victim-centered and protect the interests of the child.

Enforcement of Court Decisions in Cases Regarding Children (DAHG)

The process of compulsory enforcement of judicial acts is another problem in cases of DV. After publication of judicial acts by the courts most abusers create obstacles for the mothers to assume their parental responsibilities, visitations or custody as prescribed by the court decision. The process of compulsory enforcement of judicial acts lacks proper regulation. In particular, the officers of the Compulsory Enforcement Service are not trained in the sphere of domestic violence and do not have the necessary skills. Based on established stereotypes and narrow personal perceptions, compulsory enforcement officers often take an obviously biased approach in favor of male perpetrator of domestic violence during the enforcement of the judicial acts. As a result, the enforcement of judicial acts in favor of the victim of violence is artificially delayed and, in some cases, the judicial act may not be enforced at all.

In 2016, a group of mothers with the support of members from the Coalition to Stop Violence against Women NGO, held a protest in front of the building of the Compulsory Enforcement Service. The mothers and victims of DV had court decisions granting them custody of the children, but their enforcement was being hindered by the fathers.32 After this public action, some of the mothers were able to restore their rights through the Compulsory Enforcement Service which finally went into action.

Violations of court decisions are rarely punished and it depends on public pressure, connections and the insistence of the victim for the decisions to be put into effect.

Recommendations:

1.

Have a provision in the DV law to enforce even stricter punishment of abuser for not complying with a court decision;

2.

Amend the DV law to request implementation of a court decision within 7 days or risk fine and detention.

32 See protest in front of CES demanding the return of the children to the mothers, 01.11.2016, https://www.tert.am/am/news/2016/11/01/DAHK/2179274.