Photo: Stina Magnusson Buur / Kvinna till Kvinna

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in Armenia

Kvinna till Kvinna has supported women’s rights in Armenia since 2004. Political and economic inequality persists in Armenia, and many women have difficulties accessing health care. Women are also largely excluded from peace talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Our partners promote women’s political participation, raise awareness of women’s rights and offer free health care.

Why we work in Armenia

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in conflict since the late 1980s, primarily as a result of the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020 and the Azerbaijani military operation of September 2023, which led to Azerbaijan gaining control of the entire territory and the displacement to Armenia of the ethnic Armenian population, no lasting peace has been reached. Peace talks so far have almost entirely excluded women, as have discussions on delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which began in earnest in 2024.

The country’s already strained welfare services, including childcare, and high levels of un(der)-employment are now being made more acute by the crisis of integrating the displaced Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Additionally, the conflict’s effects are still acutely felt by those living in border areas, who live in fear of further armed escalations.

Women’s political representation

Politically, women are poorly represented in Armenia. In 2023 35.5% of seats in parliament were held by women, which was a dramatic increase from only 9.9% in 2017.  In 2018, the quota for women’s representation among electoral candidates was increased from 20% to 25%. In the snap parliamentary elections of June 2021, women comprised 36.3% of the candidates running for parliament, although only 2 of 26 political groupings in the election were led by women. The majority of women parliamentarians belong to former President Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance faction (34.5%) and Prime Minister Pashinyan’s Civil Contract (34%).

Economic inequality

Economically, there is no right to equal pay for equal work. Many women work multiple jobs and shoulder the full burden of housework and childcare. Still, they earn just half as much on average as Armenian men.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Maternal mortality rates in Armenia are eight times the EU average. Knowledge about SRHR is poor, and sex-selective abortion a common problem. In 2023, the Armenian government extended fertility treatments to all citizens, a programme which had since 2020 been offered to the parents of soldiers who had died in the Second Nagorny Karabakh War. Nevertheless, the majority of Armenians—especially rural women—struggle to access health care, particularly relating to sexual and reproductive health.

Traditional gender roles

Nationalism and heavy militarisation have entrenched traditional gender roles in society. Because of this, women’s rights activists and pacifists are often unpopular and face regular threats.

Rom Danial, Lida Minasyan, Lilly Minasyan, Perchuhy Kazhoyan, Lala Aslikyan and Kamo Davtyan of the Women’s Resource Center at an 8 March demonstration in Yerevan. Photo: Petra Hultman

How we support women in Armenia

Together with our partner organisations in Armenia, we work to:

  • support women affected by the conflict
  • promote trust and understanding between opposing sides of the conflict
  • encourage young women and ethnic minority youth to engage in politics
  • educate society about women human rights, SRHR and stereotypes
  • offer free gynaecological care and specialist referrals
  • promote women’s economic empowerment
  • prevent gender-based violence and support survivors and their children

News from our partners in Armenia

Maryam fled the war in Nagorny-Karabakh—now she’s helping other displaced women

They woke up to the sound of bombing. Just over a week later, Maryam fled from Nagorny-Karabakh with her daughter. Now, she’s supporting other displaced women and children in the aftermath of the war.

8 February 2021

”He abused me for years,” recounts Maral from Armenia

Across the world, one in three women is subjected to violence or sexual violence – often by their partner or a family member. Maral is one of the many women who have been abused by their husband. She receives support from one of our partner organisations in Armenia.

18 October 2012

Critical days for Armenia

In the past two weeks, Armenia has seen massive street protests that forced long-time president Serzh Sargsyan from power. Now, the opposition is rallying in hopes of getting its leader elected as interim prime minister. We talked to Lara Aharonian from our partner organisation Women’s Resource Center of Armenia, who is an active participant in the protests.

4 May 2018

New law to prevent gender-based violence in Armenia

After a decade of advocacy efforts, education and awareness-raising by the women’s movement, Armenia has adopted
its first stand-alone piece of domestic violence legislation. Kvinna till Kvinna’s partner, the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women, coordinated the advocacy efforts.

9 October 2017

New law to prevent domestic violence in Armenia

After a decade of advocacy efforts, education and awareness-raising by the women’s movement, Armenia has adopted its first stand-alone law against domestic violence.

2 August 2017
Last updated or reviewed 1 November 2024