Women's Resource Center

EU Legislative Interests

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC), founded in 2003, is a feminist human rights NGO working to advance women’s rights and gender equality in Armenia. WRC engages in advocacy and interest representation towards EU institutions, primarily in the context of Armenia’s implementation of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and related EU policies. 1. Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) CEPA is the foundation of EU-Armenia relations and provides a legal and political basis for promoting human rights, gender equality, and democratic reform. WRC uses CEPA, particularly Articles 13 and 21, to advocate for stronger protections against gender-based violence (GBV), alignment of Armenian law with international standards, and increased access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). WRC engages with EU Delegations and monitoring mechanisms to ensure the Armenian government upholds its CEPA obligations in the areas of women’s rights, access to justice for survivors of violence, and policy reforms. 2. EU Gender Action Plan III (2021–2025) WRC aligns its programming and advocacy with the EU Gender Action Plan III, particularly in the areas of preventing GBV, supporting access to SRHR, and promoting women’s participation in public life. WRC contributes to consultations, organizes public briefings with EU representatives, and provides data and recommendations on gender equality challenges in Armenia, including the restricted access to medical abortion and the need for gender-sensitive post-war recovery policies. 3. EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020–2024) WRC used this policy to frame its broader engagement with the EU on human rights, focusing on shrinking civic space, lack of accountability for gendered violence, and systemic discrimination. The organization promotes women’s access to justice, freedom from violence, and protection for feminist human rights defenders in Armenia. 4. EU Guidelines on Violence Against Women and Girls WRC refers to these guidelines to demand a comprehensive survivor-centered response to domestic and sexual violence in Armenia, including shelters, legal aid, and healthcare services. WRC has provided the EU Delegation with monitoring data showing implementation gaps and policy shortcomings. 5. Armenia-EU Visa Liberalisation Dialogue Armenia is progressing toward visa liberalisation with the EU. WRC has recently become active in this area, advocating for the inclusion of gender equality, GBV prevention, and protection of women’s rights as part of the human rights benchmarks for the visa process. 6. European Pillar of Social Rights (external dimension) Although primarily directed at EU Member States, WRC draws on its principles in advocating for gender-equal labor rights in Armenia, including protections against workplace harassment, the gender pay gap, and access to care infrastructure. 7. European Parliament Resolution on the Implementation of CEPA (March 2021) WRC welcomed the resolution’s support for gender equality, democratic oversight, and civil society engagement. It uses this as a reference to strengthen its advocacy for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention and greater EU support for feminist movements in Armenia.

Communication Activities

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) carries out a range of communication and advocacy activities to raise awareness and promote dialogue around EU-Armenia cooperation, with a specific focus on gender equality, CEPA implementation, and human rights obligations. 1. Policy Briefings and Consultations WRC regularly organizes closed and public briefings for EU Delegation staff, civil society, and government stakeholders on Armenia’s progress toward CEPA implementation, particularly in the areas of gender-based violence (GBV), labor rights and equality. 2. Publications and Shadow Reports WRC prepares and disseminates thematic reports and policy briefs linked to EU frameworks, including CEPA, the EU Gender Action Plan III, and the visa liberalisation process. 3. Campaigns and Public Statements WRC leads public awareness campaigns—both nationally and in partnership with regional networks—on women's rights, SRHR, and civic space. 4. Dialogue on Visa Liberalisation As part of Armenia’s informal dialogue with the EU on visa liberalisation, WRC provided written recommendations and engaged in civil society roundtables with EU representatives to ensure gender and human rights benchmarks are considered. These included advocacy for recognition of GBV as a key issue in law enforcement and judicial reform. 5. Media and Outreach WRC uses traditional and digital media to share its findings and amplify EU-related reforms from a feminist perspective. This includes social media campaigns, interviews, and joint statements with partner NGOs highlighting EU commitments to gender justice and democracy.

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is a member of the following networks and organizations: ASTRA Network – A European network focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and violence against women. WRC contributes to the network’s advocacy efforts and shares expertise on SRHR policies, gender-based violence, and related issues in Armenia and the broader Eastern European context. https://astra.org.pl/ Violence Against Women Europe Network (VAWEN) – A network that brings together civil society organizations across Europe working on the prevention and elimination of violence against women. WRC is actively involved in joint campaigns, policy discussions, and sharing best practices for addressing GBV at national and regional levels. https://wave-network.org/

Organisation Members

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is part of a wider network of individuals and organizations committed to advancing women’s rights in Armenia. Our members and affiliated entities include: Individual Members – WRC’s membership includes a diverse group of feminist activists, human rights defenders, and experts from various sectors who contribute to our advocacy work, capacity-building programs, and policy discussions on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and combating gender-based violence. Affiliated Organizations – WRC collaborates with and is affiliated to numerous women’s rights organizations and civil society groups across Armenia and internationally. Key affiliates include: Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women in Armenia – A collective of organizations working together to address and prevent gender-based violence, with whom WRC shares common goals and regularly partners on advocacy efforts. Network of SRHR advocates – A network of grassroots organizations and initiatives focused on women’s empowerment, gender equality, and SRHR. Human Rights House Yerevan – An umbrella organization that brings together human rights organizations in Armenia, working on a range of issues, including gender equality, freedom of expression, and the protection of human rights defenders. WRC collaborates with Human Rights House Yerevan on joint initiatives related to human rights advocacy and the promotion of gender justice. For more information about our members and affiliations, please visit our website.