March 1, 2023 - 17:37 AMT
Armenia mulls electronic bracelets to curb domestic violence

The National Assembly in Armenia is debating changes to the law on combatting domestic violence, seeking to introduce more effective tools for the protection of persons subjected to domestic violence, Aysor.am reports.

According to Deputy Minister of the Interior Arpine Sargsyan, the law currently provides two main mechanisms for the protection of the victims. The first refers to the emergency intervention decision, which is made directly by the police, while the second is the protection decisions, which are subject to a judicial enforcement.

She said that it was recommended to use electronic monitoring tools to ensure the implementation of said two groups of decisions.

The electronic devices follow an abuser’s movements. The victim is also equipped with a tracker, which they must wear at all times.

Usually, if an abuser violates the terms of a court order or comes too close to a victim, the bracelet sets off a first alarm warning them to stay back. If ignored, the device then alerts a control centre, which in turn contacts the police.