An action "Men against violence to women" held in Armenia

Yesterday, September, 11, an action "Men against violence to women" organized by Center of women's rights was held in Yerevan. During the action men passing by left their essays on the issue on a special stand called "Wall of shame": "No to violence!", "Never beat women!", "Woman is the core of a successful family", the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

According to Marine Martirosyan, psychologist of the Center of women's rights, the participants of the action are trying to draw public attention to the problem of violence taking place in the families. By "violence" Martirosyan means physical, psychological, economic and sexual violent actions. The psychologist says that by her observation, "violence to women usually starts with economic pressure and if things are not set right at once it can be transformed into both physical and sexual violence".

Martirosyan pointed out that women who underwent violence in families could appeal to the Center for psychological and legal aid. Free "hot lines" are working specially for them round the clock. "If the aid rendered to women by phone is not enough we invite them to our crisis center for the experts to work with them thoroughly", the psychologist added.

Marine Martirosyan also said that the Armenian women appealed to the center only when they had already undergone psychological and physical violence, "when they are defenseless and remained one to one with their problems". The psychologist pointed out that the number of women's appeals increased during recent years, however she is sure that it is "in no way connected with a growth of violence in the Armenian families". She thinks the reason is that people stopped fearing to speak about their problems and no longer feel shy to appeal to expert organizations.

The psychologist states that not only women but also men undergo family violence but "such cases are much more rare in Armenia". "It is an interesting thing that it is men who underwent economic pressure wishing to know about rights who usually appeal to us after such actions or ask to protect women's rights", Martirosyan pointed out.

David Galstyan, psychologist of the Center of women's rights, considers that violence to women is not so typical of Armenian community. Galstyan thinks that "the Armenian men have a patriarchal upbringing and women manifest their intolerance to their superior position". "In many cases it is just this factor that becomes the reason for misunderstanding in the families that results in violence", the psychologist is sure.