Parliament Adopts Bill Prohibiting Virginity Testing in First Reading

The National Assembly of Armenia has approved in the first reading a draft law on amendments and supplements to the law on "Preventing Domestic Violence, Protecting Persons Subjected to Domestic Violence, and Restoring Family Harmony.”

The initiative, authored by Civil Contract faction members Zaruhi Batoyan, Sona Ghazaryan, and Tsovinhar Vardanyan, received 63 votes in favor, 32 against, and 1 abstention.

This draft proposes to protect partners who are not married but are engaged or in a relationship from violence. The bill has sparked significant controversy, particularly due to its provision that aims to ban virginity testing. Additionally, female lawmakers suggest incorporating the term "partner" into the package, a move that some citizens argue may covertly protect same-sex relationships.

The opposition demands a clear definition stating that partners must consist of a man and a woman, while representatives of the ruling party counter that there is no such specific definition in Armenian laws and the Constitution.