“Visibility, Rights, and Progress”: High-Level Dialogue Forum Held During Pride Month Dedicated to Human Rights, Equality, and Inclusion

On 29 June 2026, Right Side Human Rights Defender NGOorganized a high-level dialogue forum entitled “Visibility, Rights, and Progress”, dedicated to promoting human rights, equality, social inclusion, and the protection of the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons in Armenia and the wider region.

The event brought together representatives of state institutions, diplomatic missions, international organizations, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, experts, and community members to foster dialogue and strengthen multi-stakeholder cooperation in the field of human rights.

The forum opened with a keynote address by Lilit Martirosyan, President of Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO. In her opening remarks, she reflected on the organization's ten-year journey, highlighting both its achievements and the ongoing challenges facing the LGBTIQ+ community. She emphasized that protecting the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, particularly transgender people, is an integral part of promoting human rights, democracy, and social justice. Her speech addressed the urgent need for comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in Armenia, legal gender recognition reform, improved access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people, the rise of anti-gender movements across the region, as well as the importance of international cooperation and the protection of LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum seekers.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Mr. Tomasz Ostropolski, Deputy Head of the Political, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia. In his address, he reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to human rights, equality, and inclusion, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation with Armenia in advancing democratic reforms and strengthening the protection of human rights.

The forum continued with the presentation of Right Side NGO's 2025 Annual Legal Report, delivered by the organization's attorneys, Arthur Margaryan and Sona Harutyunyan. The report summarized documented human rights violations throughout 2025, the organization's legal assistance activities, cases involving discrimination, hate speech and violence, as well as key legislative and institutional reforms needed to strengthen the protection of human rights in Armenia.

A central component of the event was the high-level panel discussion entitled “Human Rights, Equality and Social Inclusion: Armenia's Progress and the Role of International Cooperation.” The panel featured Ms. Anahit Manasyan, Human Rights Defender (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Marieke Monroy-Winter, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Armenia, and Mr. Aaron Coe, Political Counsellor at the Embassy of Canada to Armenia. The discussion was moderated by Lilit Martirosyan.

The panel focused on Armenia's progress in advancing human rights, equality, and social inclusion, while also addressing the remaining systemic challenges and the importance of international cooperation. Discussions covered the protection of the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, the need for comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, the effective investigation of hate crimes and hate speech, legal gender recognition, access to healthcare services, and the social inclusion of transgender people.

In her remarks, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyanstressed that an effective human rights protection system cannot function fully in an environment marked by intolerance, discrimination, and prejudice. She emphasized the importance of guaranteeing equal respect for the rights and dignity of every individual, regardless of any personal characteristic, and highlighted the need to challenge stereotypes, eliminate hate speech, strengthen human rights education, provide continuous professional training, and adopt comprehensive equality and anti-discrimination legislation. The Human Rights Defender also underlined the importance of sustained cooperation between state institutions, civil society, international organizations, and diplomatic missions in strengthening Armenia's national human rights protection system.

Panelists also reflected on international good practices and emphasized the importance of cooperation among state institutions, international organizations, diplomatic missions, and civil society in promoting human rights, equality, and inclusion.

The discussion concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants engaged with the speakers on issues related to human rights protection, anti-discrimination policies, international cooperation, and the future of LGBTIQ+ rights in Armenia.

The second panel discussion, entitled “Community Leadership and Resilience: The Contribution of Civil Society to the Protection of Human Rights,” brought together representatives of civil society and community-based organizations. The panel featured Kuka Kasyan, Executive Director of the Global Foundation for Trans Rights Protection (GTRP); Aida Marukyan, Team Member of the Queer Sista Platform; Vaghinak Ter-Hovhannisyan, Lawyer and Researcher at Pink Human Rights Defender NGO; and Anna Evoyan, Resource Mobilization Officer at Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO. The discussion was moderated by Mariam Kurshudyan, Partnerships and Development Officer at Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO.

The panel explored the resilience of civil society organizations in the face of growing anti-rights movements and disinformation campaigns, the role of international partners and donors in strengthening local organizations, existing legislative gaps related to equality and protection from discrimination in Armenia, and the importance of community leadership in advancing human rights and social inclusion.

The forum continued with the presentation of the research “The Human Rights Situation of Transgender People in Armenia: Key Findings and Policy Recommendations,” delivered by Lilit Martirosyan. The study, based on a comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic, educational, healthcare, and legal situation of transgender people in Armenia, presented its key findings, identified systemic challenges, and outlined policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the protection of transgender rights and improving public policies. The presentation was followed by an engaging discussion with participants.

The event concluded with the “Human Rights and Equality Awards 2026” ceremony, recognizing individuals and partners whose outstanding commitment and contributions have significantly advanced human rights, equality, dignity, and social justice in Armenia.

Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO extends its sincere appreciation to Ms. Anahit Manasyan, Human Rights Defender (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Armenia, for her participation in the forum and for her continued commitment to strengthening human rights protection and democratic values in Armenia.

We also express our heartfelt gratitude to the representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Armenia, in particular the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy of Canada, the Embassies of Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom, as well as other diplomatic missions and international partners, for their participation, continued cooperation, and steadfast support in advancing human rights, equality, inclusion, and democratic values in Armenia.

Our sincere gratitude also goes to representatives of state institutions, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, experts, community leaders, international and local partners, distinguished guests, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community for their presence, active participation, solidarity, and valuable contributions to this meaningful dialogue.

Only through joint efforts, meaningful partnerships, and sustained multi-stakeholder cooperation we can build a country where human rights, equality, dignity, and social inclusion are fully guaranteed for every person.