The Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity (ECOM) presented a report highlighting violations of the rights of LGBT people in Armenia in 2023. Based on the information gathered, the document demonstrates the obvious vulnerability of this group to discrimination and violence in the country. VirusOff shares the main conclusions and recommendations of the ECOM experts presented in this report.
In 2023, 67 cases of violations motivated by hatred of victims’ gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or HIV status were reported. The report records various forms of violations, including murders of transgender women and cases of sexual violence. Last year, another case of suicide of a member of the LGBT community was recorded, highlighting the social pressure and stigma faced by LGBT people in Armenia. But despite the numerous incidents, many LGBT people avoid reporting to the police or human rights organizations due to fear and mistrust, which makes it difficult to document crimes. “When analyzing the numerous cases of violence and other violations of the rights of LGBT people in Armenia identified in the course of the monitoring, it is of particular concern that in several cases state representatives acted as perpetrators,” comments Konstantin Baranov, Human Rights Coordinator at ECOM. – Authorities are obliged to protect their citizens from crime regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristics. A situation where citizens avoid reporting violations of their rights to law enforcement authorities for fear of discrimination and harassment is unacceptable – the Armenian authorities must take effective measures to remedy it as soon as possible.”
ECOM made the following recommendations to the Government of Armenia:
- Legislative changes: amend laws to explicitly mention sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics against discrimination.
- Education: train law enforcement officials to develop a sensitized attitude toward LGBT people.
- Advocacy and awareness: disseminate information on sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV through the media to educate the public and overcome stereotypes.
- Statistics: maintain statistics on hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Legal procedure: introduce legislative changes to give transgender people the right to change their gender marker with due process.
The ECOM report emphasizes the need for effective measures to protect the rights of LGBT people in Armenia and calls for urgent action by the government to create a more protective and inclusive environment for all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
The full version of the report is available here.
