The Arousyag campaign, a brainchild of a few UK-based individuals, unites two human rights charities, the Women's Resource Center (WRC) & Pink Armenia (Pink), who are pioneers in supporting the rights of women, young girls and LGBT citizens in Armenia. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented difficulties for these marginalised groups, isolating and depriving them of the crucial social, psychological, legal and medical support offered by these two respected NGOs.
Among the vulnerable groups in Armenia, the rights of women, young girls and LGBT citizens need particular attention. Domestic violence is one of the most alarming issues in the country with 50 known cases of femicide from 2010-2018 and at least 58 children left without mothers. Similarly, the LGBT community has suffered violence, hate speech and discrimination. The pandemic and related social distancing has increased the level of unemployment, poverty and isolation within the LGBT community.
Both WRC and Pink were able to quickly adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to offer support to their beneficiaries. They urgently require further assistance from the community of like-minded people, who care about human rights and safety. This fundraising effort will help women and LGBT people to survive the crisis and receive financial support and professional assistance by providing added resources, quicker response times and a telephone hotline service.
Your support will allow WRC and Pink to effectively reach out and provide legal, social, psychological and financial support to more women and LGBT people in Armenia during these difficult times. By empowering them to live lives without fear, discrimination and violence and to overcome the current crisis you will be helping to enable them to become agents for social change. Your contribution will go a long way in creating a kinder society. We thank you.
