Biography
Lilit Martirosyan is a transgender activist and human rights defender with extensive experience in promoting equality, combating discrimination, and advocating for social justice. Based in Armenia, she is a recognized expert in sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) issues and has played a key role in advancing the rights of transgender individuals and LGBTIQ communities both nationally and internationally.
Lilit is the first transgender person to deliver a speech in Armenia's National Assembly, bringing visibility to the challenges faced by the transgender community. Her advocacy has been instrumental in reforming Armenia's name-change practices, making it easier for transgender individuals to align their legal identity with their gender identity.
As the Founder and President of Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO, Lilit leads initiatives to address systemic discrimination, hate speech, hate crimes, and the unique challenges faced by marginalized groups in Armenia. Her leadership is essential to the organization’s mission to ensure the inclusion and protection of transgender and LGBTIQ individuals in policy, society, and legal frameworks.
Lilit’s responsibilities include leading advocacy efforts, designing impactful programs, managing strategic partnerships, and securing funding to support human rights initiatives. She also represents Armenia’s LGBTIQ community at international forums and UN hearings, advocating for legal and societal reforms. Her intersectional feminist approach emphasizes the ways in which gender, sexuality, and other factors intersect to shape discrimination and inequality.
As a SOGI expert, Lilit has contributed to drafting policy briefs and advising on legal reforms to improve protections for marginalized communities. She actively collaborates with government bodies, international organizations, and civil society to build an inclusive and equitable society.
In addition, Lilit is a member of several international organizations, including the Steering Committee of the Sex Worker Advocacy Network (SWAN) and the Global Fund for Women Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee. She has also served on the Program Advisory Committee of the Red Umbrella Fund, evaluating global funding applications supporting sex workers' rights.
Lilit has received numerous awards, including the Human Rights Tulip Award in 2020, recognizing her significant contributions to human rights advocacy.
Email: lilitt.martirosyan@gmail.com
9 years by the side of Trans, LGBIQ, communities
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