Armenia today marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by launching its version of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence international campaign.

The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991.

A conference in Yerevan, organized by Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office and with the support of the European Union and the United Nations Population Fund, took place today in Yerevan.

Addressing today’s conference and stressing the need to raise awareness about gender-based violence in Armenia were Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan, Acting Head of the UN Population Fund Office in Armenia Lusineh Sargsyan, Yerevan Deputy Mayor Tigran Avinyan, and Women Support Center Director Maro Matosian.