Sexual Conduct Law – Armenia

Legal Framework

Armenia’s Criminal Code criminalizes a range of sexual offences including rape, sexual coercion, sexual acts with minors, and sexual harassment. Consent laws require that sexual activity be voluntary, with capacity and freedom to choose. The age of consent is 16.

Rape (Article 138) carries a prison sentence of 4 to 15 years, depending on aggravating circumstances such as group offences, use of violence, or the victim being under 18. Sexual acts with persons under the age of consent are punishable regardless of claimed consent.

Notable Incidents & Enforcement

Media reports show increasing prosecution of sexual violence cases, with public concern about underreporting in rural areas. In 2023, a Yerevan court sentenced a man to 12 years for the rape of a 17-year-old, with the trial receiving wide coverage in Armenian media.

NGOs have noted that victims sometimes face social stigma when reporting, and law enforcement has increased training to handle sexual offence cases sensitively.

Punishments

• Rape: 4–15 years imprisonment, higher if victim is under 18 or violence is extreme.
• Sexual acts with minors (under 16): 3–10 years imprisonment.
• Sexual harassment: Fines or up to 1 year imprisonment, often prosecuted under workplace harassment provisions.
• Production or distribution of child pornography: 3–7 years imprisonment.

Insider Notes

"Armenia’s laws are strict on paper, but rural enforcement can be inconsistent. In Yerevan, courts are more likely to hand down full sentences." — local legal observer

"Social attitudes are changing—there’s more public outrage at sexual violence than a decade ago." — Armenian women’s rights activist