The representatives of “Pink Armenia” organization presented the report entitled “LGBT People’s Human Rights Situation in Armenia: 2016”. According to Lusine Ghazaryan, the representative of the organization, LGBT community members face serious problems particularly when serving in the Army. “The moment onwards, when the sexual orientation is discovered, every person starts to face a chain of offences, both physical and psychological violence, dignity humiliation both by the commanders’ staff and the soldiers, they isolate them from the soldiers, do not allow to use the same tableware or have dinner with the rest.”
Lusine Ghazaryan reported that they have a case of a criminal case instigated, when the person has informed that he is a homosexual, they have instigated a criminal case to find out whether the person tries to get released of army service: “The reason for starting a criminal case is ununderstandable, forasmuch as being a homosexual is not a ground to get released from army service. One of the most painful issues is that forensic medical examination is conducted to find out the person’s sexual orientation. It is a humiliating treatment towards the person. It is not an objective standard, such examinations are conducted to reveal the violent actions of sexual nature.”
As stated by Lusine Ghazaryan, the homosexual persons do not serve in the army de facto, although it is not regulated by law, but they acquire an additional vulnerability thereby. She informed us that the homosexuals face problems at home as well and are subject to domestic violence: “We have had cases when besides a classical beating, the parents have kept their children under home arrest, have made their juvenile children leave their home.”
As reported by Lusine Ghazaryan, a group of activists from their organization have been subject to beatings because of their sexual orientation: “The government should work on changing the social mindset, it is officially known that the problems of LGBT persons is recognized as a problem, which we have not witnessed until now.”
Arpine SIMONYAN
