Violence prevention should not be used as opportunity to distort  traditional concept of family

ArmInfo. Violence prevention should not be used as an opportunity to distort the traditional concept of family, reads a statement of the Office of the Mother See of Etchmiadzin in connection with the amendments to the law "On the prevention of family violence, the protection of persons subjected to domestic violence and the restoration of unity in the family" being discussed in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

"We were surprised to learn that the bill is being discussed again in 

the National Assembly. The AAC welcomes any initiative designed to 

eliminate violence both in the family and in any other social 

environment. Any manifestation of violence is reprehensible, all 

people are under God's care. The Holy Scripture says the word of the 

Lord: "I will be their God, and they will be my sons." However, some 

of the wording in the draft law is extremely unacceptable. In 

particular, the concept of "domestic violence" included in the title 

and content of the project is very vague and spatial, contrary to the 

goal of preventing violence within the family and artificially 

expands the scope of regulation of the law. The concept of "partner" 

is more than alarming, where it is defined as "a person with whom 

there is a relationship characterized by love, regardless of the 

circumstances of living together or having sexual relations with each 

other." At the same time, The bill in no way excludes that same-sex 

persons can be considered partners, whose union, in essence, will be 

equated to the concept of a family," the statement says.

The document emphasizes that the family is a union of love between a 

man and a woman, united by the will of God and blessed with 

childbearing. "The traditional understanding of the family is 

ontologically important for our nation and is not subject to 

discussion. Therefore, the prevention of violence should not be used 

as an opportunity to distort the traditional understanding of the 

family. Violence, like any other evil, must be prevented and combated 

by means that do not lead to worsening evil and the emergence of new 

violence. Taking into account the above, as well as the presence of a 

number of other alarming formulations, the Legal Committee of the 

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin considers such an initiative 

unacceptable and calls on the factions of the National Assembly and 

deputies to reject the adoption of the project. The voting result of 

each deputy will show his attitude and responsibility towards his 

family , his children and generations, his loyalty to traditional 

Christian family values," the statement emphasizes.