LIFE-17 OFFSITE INFORMATION PLATFORM WAS HELD
On September 29-30, 2021, LIFE-17 offsite information platform was held within the framework of Capacity Building and Empowerment for Protection of LGBTI Rights in Armenia for beginner LGBTI activists.
The information platform is aimed at the awareness-raising and capacity building of LGBTI community representatives on the topics of sexuality, leadership and activism, human rights, enhancing their legal consciousness, acquainting them with the domestic and international human rights protection mechanisms as well as assessing the needs of the communities.
In his opening speech, Levon Chilingaryan, facilitator of the information platform, NGNGO project assistant, presented the history of the organization, spheres of activity and priorities, as well as thanked the participants for their interest and participation.
At the beginning of the information platform, the participants introduced themselves, stating which region of Armenia they represent, why they want to participate in the information platform, what they expect from the information platform.
On the first day of the information platform the participants were introduced to the topic of Domestic and International Mechanisms of Human Rights Protection, and Prevention of Stigma and Discrimination which were presented by lawyer and trainer Lusine Gasparyan who spoke about the concept of human rights, generations of human rights, domestic and international protection systems, the European Convention on Human Rights and the procedure for applying to the European Court of Human Rights. The trainer introduced to the participants the definition of discrimination, types and protected grounds of discrimination, discriminatory terms and their non-discriminatory variants.
The first part of the second day of the information platform was dedicated to the topic of Leadership and Activism and Sexuality. Trainer Hmayak Avetisyan introduced the participants to the concept of leadership, the description of leadership, the characteristics of a leader, as well as the types of leadership. He also presented the history of activism, the precedents of the movements, the need for activists to protect the rights of the vulnerable groups. The expert also spoke about the work of Country Coordinating Mechanism and the importance of community engagement in decision-making processes.
In the second part of the day, Hmayak Avetisyan introduced the topic of Sexuality, in the framework of which the participants got acquainted with a difficult topic through group games, informal educational environment, discovered the components of sexuality, began to think about their sexual orientation and gender identity, differentiated such important terms as sexual behavior, sexual orientation and gender identity.
At the end of the training, the participants were awarded with certificates of participation.
The information platform was organized by New Generation Humanitarian NGO with financial support of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
