Armenian Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Janna Andreasyan says that support centers for domestic violence victims will operate in all provinces of the country starting next year.

Andreasyan made the statement at a meeting with provincial government department heads responsible for defending the rights of women and children.

“Preventing domestic violence is an important policy direction for us, and we already have in place a comprehensive and coordinated mechanism to assist those subjected to domestic violence,” Andreasyan said, adding that the government is planning to create two shelters for those needing a safe place to stay.

Andreasyan said that Armenia already has six such assistance centers (three in Yerevan and one each in Lori, Syunik and Shirak) and that six more will be launched by the end of this year in collaboration with the Women’s Support Center NGO and the Hayastan All Armenian Fund.