LGBT people continue to face discrimination. Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch published its annual World Report in January 2025, providing a comprehensive overview of Armenia’s human rights landscape throughout 2024. The report highlights both advancements and ongoing challenges in areas such as law enforcement accountability, privacy rights, freedom of expression, equality, disability rights, and protections against gender-based violence.

While there have been some positive developments—such as Armenia becoming the 124th state party to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court—significant challenges remain. Notably, the LGBT community continues to face systemic discrimination, harassment, and violence, underscoring the need for comprehensive legal protections and societal change.

The report addresses the cases of violence against LGBT individuals. Fear of discrimination and humiliation due to public disclosure of their sexual orientation or gender identity—combined with a lack of trust in official investigations—prevents many from reporting hate crimes. Investigations into such crimes are often inconclusive or ineffective, and charges frequently fail to reflect the homophobic or transphobic motives of the perpetrators. The criminal code does not explicitly recognize bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity as an aggravating factor in hate crimes, and law enforcement authorities remain reluctant to consider such motives when determining charges. Local organizations have documented multiple cases of LGBT students dropping out of school due to bullying.

Armenia’s legal framework remains inadequate in protecting the rights of LGBT individuals. The absence of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation leaves LGBT persons vulnerable, with limited avenues for legal recourse. Additionally, the draft law on anti-discrimination fails to grant NGOs the ability to file public interest lawsuits on behalf of victims—an issue long advocated for by local activists.

The persistent discrimination, violence, and lack of legal protections for LGBT individuals underscore the critical need for legislative reform and societal change. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including the adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, effective law enforcement responses to hate crimes, and initiatives aimed at transforming societal attitudes toward the LGBT community.