Promoting LGBT Human Rights in Armenia

German Embassy in Armenia helping to promote human rights and diversity.

On June 8, 2015, the German Embassy issued a press release stating that it had entered into a cooperation agreement with the New Generation Humanitarian NGO to provide financial assistance for “Capacity building and empowerment of human rights defenders and emerging leaders for LGBT rights protection in Armenia” for 2015.

The program will strive to promote LGBT human rights in Armenia, fight against their discrimination and homophobia, to dispel prejudice and strengthen LGBT rights to self-development and self-determination. The program envisions funding in the amount of 30,000 euros.

Some of the program’s activities will provide about 15 LGBT homeless youth with shelter; provide free of charge legal consulting services and formation of legal documentation for LGBT people; conduct training on human rights and diversity for 15 human rights defenders from the regions of Armenia; conduct training for emerging LGBT leaders to enhance their skills and capacity; conduct round table discussions, etc.

The German Embassy press release states: “Human Rights are universal and indivisible. Human Right politics of course include the rights of LGBT” and noted that attacks and discrimination based on sexual orientation violate the General Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Embassy statement noted that the German Federal Government is committed to the protection of human rights defenders and speaks out “against any kind of discrimination based on sexual orientation…[the] German Foreign Office therefore promotes projects as well that aim at improving the human rights situation of LGBT in the context of its bilateral cooperation.”