Right Side

Description

Right Side NGO is a human rights organization defending the rights of transgender people and sex workers in Armenia. It is the first trans-led organization in the South Caucasus region. It was founded on 25 January 2016 by transgender activists. It is based in Armavir, Armenia.

Since then it has focused on protecting the rights and health of the trans, LGBTQ+ and sex worker communities, advocating for policy reform and raising visibility of these groups. In 2018 its advocacy contributed to changes in Armenia’s name-change procedure, a key advance for trans people’s rights. It also provides community members with legal and psychological services, small grants, educational opportunities and crisis-related social support.

Right Side NGO works with local and international partners on trans and LGBTQ+ issues, including Pink Armenia. It cooperates with organizations such as ILGA-Europe and is a member of the European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance. It has run projects on hate crime data collection, activist security and resilience, vocational training and public awareness campaigns. It also has ties to diplomatic missions and United Nations agencies.