
11 Feb. 2026
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Report on Armenia’s Human Rights Situation (2025)
The international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch, which works in the field of monitoring, research, and documentation of human rights violations, has published its 2025 annual report on Armenia, outlining the main challenges and systemic issues in the protection of human rights in the country.
A separate section of the report focuses on discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, the response of the criminal justice system, and other related issues, analyzing prevailing trends and specific features of law-enforcement practice in this area. This section also includes materials collected through fact-finding and documentation activities carried out by Dignity Humanitarian NGO.
The main legal issues identified include:
- Inadequate response by law enforcement authorities – Discriminatory attitudes, inaction, or abuse by law enforcement officials toward LGBT people often result in victims refraining from filing complaints.
- Gaps in criminal legislation – The Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia does not recognize sexual orientation and gender identity as aggravating circumstances for crimes, which undermines the effectiveness of legal protection.
- Discriminatory legislative provisions – Homosexuality continues to be classified as a mental disorder, which is used as a basis for exemption from military service and creates discriminatory risks in the areas of employment and healthcare.
- Cases of physical and psychological violence – Instances of domestic violence, physical abuse, and psychological violence have been documented, including cases perpetrated by law enforcement officers and other individuals.
These findings indicate that, in order to prevent discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and to enhance the effectiveness of protecting the rights of victims, it is necessary to improve the legislative framework and strengthen law-enforcement practices.
Dignity Humanitarian NGO will continue to
- collect and document data on human rights violations against LGBT persons and other vulnerable groups,
- provide legal assistance and counseling to victims,
- raise systemic issues with national and international bodies,
- support legislative reforms and assess the effectiveness of their implementation.
You can access the full version of the report here: Human Rights Watch – Armenia 2025.
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