Lilit Martirosyan participated in the Council of Europe high-level Steering Committee Meeting in Yerevan

Lilit Martirosyan, President of Right Side NGO, participated in the Steering Committee Meeting on the Implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023–2026, as well as in the framework of the EU/CoE Partnership for Good Governance 2023–2027.

During the meeting, Lilit Martirosyan delivered a speech reflecting on the organization’s cooperation with the Council of Europe and its impact on advancing the rights, equality, and visibility of LGBTIQ+ people in Armenia, particularly trans individuals.

In her remarks, she highlighted that trans people in Armenia continue to face discrimination, violence, and social exclusion, and stressed the importance of such partnerships in ensuring that international human rights standards translate into national policies and practical change. She also emphasized the role of Council of Europe initiatives in strengthening dialogue between state institutions, law enforcement, and civil society, as well as in improving responses to hate speech and hate crimes.

Particular attention was given to capacity-building efforts, including trainings with law enforcement representatives, which contribute to more informed and sensitive responses to the needs of vulnerable groups.

Discussions focused on the priorities for the next Action Plan for Armenia, including strengthening democratic institutions, advancing justice reforms, promoting human rights, and supporting vulnerable communities.

Right Side NGO expresses its sincere gratitude to the Council of Europe and the Council of Europe Office in Armenia for the invitation, continued cooperation, and for consistently ensuring that LGBTIQ+ issues are included across different agendas.

We remain committed to continuing our work towards the protection of LGBTIQ+ rights, the promotion of equality, and the development of a more inclusive society.