Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia

The Heinrich Boell Foundation, within the framework of the 3-year EU-funded action, Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, has produced a number of public service announcements (PSAs) in order to contribute to raising positive visibility on issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights.

On November 20, 2017, the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is marked annually in memory of trans* persons who have lost their lives to transphobic violence, the hbs South Caucasus Regional Office, held a round table meeting on issues of legal gender recognition (LGR) in Tbilisi.

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 December 2, 2016, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, together with its partners, the NGO Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK) and Society Without Violence (SWV) organized a presentation of a comprehensive LGBTI rights strategy document, titled “Realising the Human Rights of LGBTI People in Armenia”. In Armenian

The Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) in Georgia and Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK) in Armenia, in cooperation with the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boll Foundation, are announcing a Call for Project Proposals for a small grants component within the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia (2015-2017).

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.

Baltic Pride week, whose principal slogan was "We Are People, Not Propaganda!", lasted from June 13 to 23 with the Pride March taking place on June 18 and a number of associated events conducted throughout principally organized by the Lithuanian National LGBT* Rights Organization (LGL).

“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?

On Dec. 8-11, 2015, the project partners from Armenia and Georgia within the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, and an LGBT activist from Azerbaijan participated in an annual event organized by the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ms. Ulrike Lunacek, in cooperation with the Greens/EFA, the EP Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, and the HBS EU office.

(closed project) The Heinrich Böll Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, with financial support of the EU, has initiated the implementation and overall supervision of a three-year action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, executed by a working group of NGOs - Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG), Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) in Georgia and Society Without Violence (SWV) and Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK) in Armenia.

Within the framework of the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, WISG is tasked with managing the components of the societal attitudes study in Georgia, designing the training manual and conducting CSO capacity building trainings; managing the small grants component as a follow-up to the trainings, and implementing the micro grants component to enhancing the visibility of the action and its results.

(closed project) Within the framework of the EU-funded project Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, PINK Armenia is tasked with managing components of the societal attitudes study in Armenia, conducting capacity development trainings for LGBTI organizations/activists, and managing the small grants component to follow up on CSO capacity building in Armenia.

(closed project) Within the frames of the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, SWV will manage components of the situational assessment of LGBTI conditions in Armenia, conduct capacity building/sensitization of journalists in Armenia, implement CSO capacity building trainings, and manage the micro grants component in Armenia to enhance the visibility of the action.