MUNTHE DONATES TO DANNER

As part of our ongoing commitment to support women’s initiatives, MUNTHE contributes 10% of its annual pre-tax profits to organizations working for women’s rights and safety. One of these valued partners is Danner. This year, in honour of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, MUNTHE is supporting Danner’s vital efforts to train frontline staff in Armenia, helping strengthen protection and support for women at risk.

With support from MUNTHE, Danner carried out a two-day training in Armenia in collaboration with the Armenian NGO Democracy Today on September 22nd – 23rd, 2025. The program brought together more than 29 participants from a range of sectors that directly handle hotline calls and frontline work with women affected by violence. These included police officers, emergency call center staff, human rights workers, educators, psychologists, and other essential professionals.

“I came, thinking that this training would help me support others. But I realized it helped me first, so that I can help others more effectively. It showed me how essential it is to have a clear and grounded inner state if you want to truly support others.” – Participant in the training in Armenia
 

Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue in Armenia. One in four women has experienced intimate partner violence, and more than 80 women were killed by a current or former partner between 2010 and 2020 - a concerning figure in a nation of just 3 million people.

Access to protection is severely limited: only two shelters exist in the entire country, both located in the capital, Yerevan, leaving many women without safe options. While Armenia criminalized domestic violence in 2017, implementation remains inconsistent, and many women still struggle to access help due to limited resources, lack of awareness, and inadequate responses from police and authorities.

The training focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of the signs and consequences of domestic violence and introducing trauma-informed approaches, combining theoretical insights with practical exercises such as conversation techniques. It also highlighted compassion fatigue and self-care, underscoring how the wellbeing of frontline workers is crucial for providing sustainable and effective support.

Here's why Mette Marie Yde, CEO of Danner, thinks the help is crucial:

“Social stigma, limited awareness, and deep-rooted gender norms often prevent women in Armenia from seeking help. At the same time, access to protection and support services remains very limited. That’s why we value our collaboration with MUNTHE, which helped us train over 29 frontline professionals to better support women victims of violence.”