Penalties for Forcing Renunciation of Parental Rights to be Toughened, Including Imprisonment

“Forcing or compelling individuals to renounce their parental rights is a serious challenge for the Republic of Armenia, as such actions threaten a child’s right to live with their biological family, contradict the state policy of strengthening the family, and violate the principles of mutual assistance among family members and the inadmissibility of arbitrary interference in family affairs,” stated Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan during a Government meeting while presenting proposed amendments to the Criminal Code.

According to the draft developed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, it is proposed to amend the Criminal Code to toughen penalties for forcing or compelling individuals to renounce their parental rights. Accordingly, a person will be punished with a fine ranging from 200 to 500 times the minimum wage, or imprisonment for a period of one to four years.

A harsher penalty is stipulated if the act is committed by a healthcare worker using violence that endangers life or health, or by threatening such violence, while abusing their official position. In that case, the individual will face imprisonment for a period of 2 to 5 years, possibly with a prohibition from holding certain positions or engaging in specific activities for up to 3 years, or without such prohibition.

If the crime is committed by an organized group, or leads to the death of the victim or other serious consequences through negligence, the penalty will be set at imprisonment for a term of 4 to 8 years, with or without the confiscation of property.