UN experts praise Armenia’s gender gains, urge move from formal to substantive equality
UN experts have praised Armenia’s recent progress on gender equality but urged the government to convert legal advances into changes felt in daily life. In a statement issued Wednesday after a 10-day visit, the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls called on Armenia to use political momentum from recent policy and legislative reforms to move from formal gender equality measures to substantive equality.
The Working Group commended visible gains, citing improved indicators. Armenia’s gender inequality index decreased from 0.35 in 2010 to 0.22 in 2021, and its rank in the global gender gap index moved from 102 to 59 between 2016 and 2025. Experts tied these improvements to legal reforms addressing gender-based violence, gender-responsive public policies, and support for women-led grassroots initiatives.
They also noted Armenia’s adherence to international standards and participation in global discussions, as well as signals of commitment to relevant treaties and conventions. To sustain momentum, the experts encouraged Armenian leaders to demonstrate equality not only in law but in practice.
They outlined an enforcement and implementation framework known as CREATE, designed to tackle persistent structural barriers, including what they described as “entrenched patriarchal stereotypes.” Among the suggested next steps, the Working Group recommended establishing a national institution dedicated to the protection and promotion of women’s rights with a mandate aligned to international standards.
It explicitly called for adoption of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. While the government reportedly has an evolving draft law from June 2025, the report urged explicit prohibitions on specific forms of gender-based discrimination and the enumeration of a broad range of protected categories.
The Working Group is scheduled to present its full comprehensive report on its Armenia visit to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2027.