On September 28, 2017, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, together with its partners PINK and SWV organised a Wrap-up Stakeholder Meeting of the EU-funded Project “Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia”, which was being implemented since early 2015 in Aremnia and Georgia. հայերեն

On June 30, July 13, and July 14, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, in cooperation with project partners, the Women's Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) and the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) held three LGBTI-focused public discussions in Gori, Kutaisi and Batumi.

The long-term advocacy strategy/declaration to combat homo/bi/transphobia aims to support the elimination of discrimination against LGBTI persons in Georgia via a complex approach. We call on organisations that share the issues outlined in the strategy/declaration to join and confirm their support.

On May 3, 2017, the Heinrich Boell Foundation, in cooperation with the Women's Initiatives Supporting Group & the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center held public discussions "Homophobic Politics or Political Homophobia".

The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation is seeking a qualified evaluator to undertake the final project evaluation beginning in November 2017.

On March 10 the hbs South Caucasus in cooperation with WISG and EMC held a CSO Forum with the participation of civil society organisations and media representatives, where the project partners presented a long-term advocacy strategy document to combat homo/bi/transphobia in Georgia.

On November 7-11, 2016, the project staff of the cross-border EU-funded initiative Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia visited Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to participate in a capacity building study tour aimed to transfer the experience of a similar EU-funded action Coming out! - Advocating promotion and protection of LGBT rights, implemented by the Heinrich Boell Foundation Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Sarajevo Open Center and CURE Foundation.

On October 25-28, 2016, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, in cooperation with partners, hosted a group of activists, representatives of Armenian CSOs and LGBTI organizations in the scope of a capacity-building tour, which aimed to connect these actors with LGBTI organizations, other NGOs and equality body representatives in Georgia.

“Every single time we gather and discuss the issues which are more than important nowadays for achieving equality and non-discrimination towards the LGBTI community and allies, I proudly understand one simple fact: Who, if not us? And, when, if not now?" – Arman Sahakyan, New Generation Humanitarian NGO, Armenia

LGBTI individuals and LGBTI human rights defenders in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are facing huge challenges as LGBTI rights issues are currently shaped by EU, Russia, and South Caucasus geopolitical and economic interests. Could the European Neighbourhood Policy and other EU foreign policy initiatives contribute to the improvement of the LGBTI rights situation in the region?