Armenia’s stagnation on LGBTI rights. Rainbow Map
As ILGA-Europe unveiled its 2025 Rainbow Map, Armenia’s position remains alarmingly static. Consistently ranking near the bottom among 49 European countries, Armenia’s lack of progress in advancing LGBTI rights underscores a persistent human rights issue.
Since the decriminalization of homosexuality in 2003, Armenia has made minimal strides in protecting its LGBTI citizens. The country lacks comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, leaving LGBTI individuals vulnerable to systemic bias and violence. While the Ministry of Justice introduced a draft anti-discrimination law, it fails to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories, rendering it insufficient in addressing the specific challenges faced by the LGBTI community.
While Armenia remains stagnant, other European nations are experiencing significant shifts both positive and negative. Malta continues to lead the Rainbow Map for the tenth consecutive year, demonstrating a sustained commitment to LGBTI equality. Belgium has ascended to second place after implementing policies addressing hatred based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. Iceland now holds third place.
Conversely, countries like the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Georgia have seen notable declines. The UK dropped six places to 22nd following a Supreme Court ruling that narrowly defined a woman by “biological sex,” impacting the legal recognition of trans individuals. Hungary and Georgia each fell seven places due to anti-LGBTI legislation․
For Armenia to align with democratic values and uphold human rights, it must take concrete steps:
- Enact comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that explicitly protects LGBTI individuals.
- Establish mechanisms to monitor and address hate crimes effectively.
- Establish a clear, accessible legal gender recognition procedure based on self-determination.
Without decisive action, Armenia risks further entrenching discrimination and isolating itself from the broader European community committed to equality and human rights.
