The Human Rights Defender’s Annual Report Includes a Chapter Dedicated to the Rights of LGBTIQ Persons

The 2024 Annual Report of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia has been published, summarizing the institution's activities and the overall state of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the year.

As in previous years, the section on “Equality and Prohibition of Discrimination” includes a dedicated chapter on the rights of LGBT persons (pages 312–320).

Right Side NGO welcomes the fact that for the second consecutive year, the Human Rights Defender’s annual report includes a specific focus on the protection of LGBTIQ rights. Given that the challenges faced by the community were long overlooked, we view this inclusion as a necessary and meaningful step toward institutional recognition and state accountability.

The 2024 report notes the participation of a representative from the Human Rights Defender’s Office in a Pride Month conference organized by Right Side NGO. We value this engagement as a willingness to listen to the voices of the community.

The report also highlights documentation by our partner, Pink human rights NGO, which recorded 57 cases of human rights violations in 2024. These included domestic violence, discriminatory treatment in state institutions, degradation of dignity, and hate speech involving public figures. These cases reflect the continued systemic and societal discrimination faced by LGBTIQ individuals in Armenia.

Importantly, the report raises several critical legislative gaps, including the absence of sexual orientation and gender identity as explicitly protected characteristics under Armenian law. The Defender has presented a number of recommendations aimed at addressing these shortcomings—recommendations that will require political will and concrete action to be realized.

Such recognition in a national human rights report is important not only for documenting existing problems but also for advancing a culture of state responsibility. Right Side NGO remains committed to working with all stakeholders to build an Armenia where LGBTIQ voices are heard, rights are protected, and dignity is upheld.

Note: While the report uses the acronym “LGBT,” we consistently use “LGBTIQ” in our communications, as it is more inclusive of intersex and queer individuals—identities that are often overlooked, even in human rights documentation. Full representation of our community’s diversity is a principle we stand firmly by