Armenia stresses gender equality in biodiversity conservation and environmental policymaking

Armenia attaches importance to ensuring gender equality in biodiversity conservation and the implementation of environmental policies, Minister of Labor and Welfare Arsen Torosyan said during the “Women Forum: Taking action for the Gender-responsive implementation of the KMGBF,” held in the Blue Zone as part of COP17.

He said Armenia views gender equality as a fundamental principle of human rights protection, social justice and sustainable development.

Torosyan noted that an important step in this direction was the government’s approval in 2025 of the 2025–2028 Strategy for the Implementation of Gender Policy and its Action Plan. The strategy identifies six key priorities aimed at ensuring equal participation of women and men in governance and decision-making, promoting gender-responsive approaches in the socioeconomic sphere, expanding equal opportunities in education and healthcare, preventing gender-based violence and discrimination, and developing gender-responsive policies on climate change.

“The implementation rate of the strategy in 2025 was assessed at around 90%, demonstrating the comprehensive and effective work being carried out to achieve the established objectives,” the minister said.

He said the strategy’s sixth priority is aligned with the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Gender Plan of Action (2023–2030), which emphasizes the full, equal and effective participation of women in the development and implementation of environmental policies, the protection of their rights and their involvement in decision-making.

Torosyan also noted that Armenia is taking steps to strengthen its national mechanisms for gender equality. In this context, the Council on Women, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, plays an important role as a platform for evaluating and monitoring policies aimed at promoting gender equality, as well as programs to prevent discrimination against women and violence against them.

According to the minister, effective implementation of environmental policies requires taking into account the different needs, opportunities and roles of women and men, while ensuring equal participation and opportunities to take part in decision-making.

“Expanding women’s participation in environmental decision-making, promoting their leadership and ensuring equal opportunities should be among our shared priorities in the coming years,” Torosyan said, adding that Armenia is ready to continue its efforts to bring together gender equality and environmental sustainability.