Right Side NGO at UPR Info Pre-sessions 49: Advocating for Trans LGBIQ+ Rights

Lilit Martirosyan, the Founder and President of the Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO, participated in the UPR Info Pre-sessions 49, held from February 18 to February 21, 2025. This important event allowes us to bring the voices and concerns of transgender and LGBIQ+ communities in Armenia to an international platform, advocating for critical reforms to address systemic discrimination and human rights violations.

The stakeholder submission presented during the pre-sessions was co-prepared by Right Side NGO, GATE, and supported by RFSL. Our lawyer also participated in the sessions, providing key legal expertise to support our advocacy and enhance the credibility of our recommendations.

During the event, Lilit delivered a speech highlighting the urgent need for legal and policy reforms in Armenia, emphasizing the lack of explicit protections in Armenia’s legislation against hate crimes and hate speech targeting transgender individuals and the broader LGBIQ+ community. Lilit called attention to the absence of legal gender recognition mechanisms and the significant gaps in healthcare services for transgender individuals, including the lack of gender-affirming care and trained medical professionals. The speech also addressed systemic challenges, including the absence of comprehensive equality legislation that protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Lilit emphasized the importance of combating hate speech and gender-based violence through public awareness campaigns and educational reforms to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote inclusion. She called on the Armenian government to safeguard the human rights of transgender individuals and ensure access to justice and presented actionable steps for legislative and institutional reforms, such as incorporating protections for gender identity and sexual orientation into Armenia’s legal framework and ensuring full enforcement of the right to peaceful assembly.

We extend our sincere gratitude to RFSL and GATE for their unwavering support and contribution to this impactful advocacy effort. Together, we continue to amplify the voices of transgender and LGBIQ+ communities and strive for equality and justice in Armenia.