SERGEY GHAZINYAN

Lecturer at the Chair of European and International Law,

Yerevan State University (YSU), and the American University of Armenia (AUA)

Expert at the YSU Center for European Studies

DOI:https://doi.org/10.59546/18290744-2025.7-9-151

Annotation.

National referral procedures or mechanisms (‘‘National Referral Mechanisms“) are cornerstones of a human rights-based and victim-centered anti-trafficking policy, designed through systematic procedures to ensure the identification, protection, and assistance of victims. Based on international human rights standards, they translate legal obligations into practical steps by defining the roles of competent authorities and referral pathways. Studying the legal regulations and the practical application of referral procedures is crucial for assessing the protection of and the effectiveness for persons subjected to trafficking.

This article examines the referral pathways for persons subjected to trafficking and exploitation in Armenia, including legislative regulations and practical challenges. The study focuses on the three main procedural stages of the referral mechanism: detection, pre-identification, and identification.

The findings highlight significant achievements in the field, including the adoption of a dedicated law, the establishment of competent bodies with clear mandates, and the prioritisation of a human rights-based and victim centred approach. Nevertheless, persistent shortcomings undermine the system’s effective operation to promptly and adequately protect victims. In particular, the detection phase remains the most problematic, with frontline actors having ambiguous mandates, lacking standard operating procedures, insufficient training, and fragmented coordination.

The article provides a comparative analysis of Armenia’s experience against international standards on victim-centered and human rights-based approaches, arguing that national referral mechanisms require not only legal guarantees but also sustained capacity-building of competent bodies, harmonized internal procedures, and proactive engagement from all sectors. The article offers legislative and practical recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness, accessibility, and accountability of Armenia’s national referral mechanism.

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