Human Rights Council - 60th Session
Item 6: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review - Armenia
Thank you, President,
I deliver this statement on behalf of the Women’s Resource Center and the Sexual Rights Initiative.
We welcome Armenia’s constructive engagement in the UPR process and its acceptance of recommendations related to sexual and reproductive health and rights. We welcome the commitments made to expand access to modern contraceptives, ensure adolescent-friendly and age-appropriate sexuality education, and to strengthen access to reproductive health services.
However, for these commitments to be meaningful some important challenges and gaps must be addressed. For example, Armenia must adopt evidence-based, rights-based, and inclusive sexuality education, in line with international standards. At present, comprehensive sexuality education continues to be delivered largely through abstinence-based or morality-driven approaches, which fail to equip young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed choices.
Further, Armenia must address uneven access to reproductive services, including abortion, which is legally permitted in the country. Rural women, women with disabilities, LBT women and women living with HIV face systemic barriers due to stigma, lack of trained providers, and gaps in service delivery. The government must take proactive steps to ensure abortion is accessible, affordable, and safe for all women, regardless of their social status, genetic or personal characteristics, or geographic location.
Finally, we stress the urgent need to guarantee access to affordable modern contraceptives throughout the country. This is a cornerstone of reproductive autonomy and gender equality, yet many women—particularly those from marginalized communities —continue to lack reliable access.
We therefore call on Armenia to prioritize implementation of these recommendations with concrete measures, adequate funding, and a rights-based approach that leaves no woman behind.
Thank you.