The Human Rights Defender’s Office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held a joint workshop focusing on promoting gender equality and ensuring a safe and inclusive working environment.

Representatives of the Human Rights Defender’s Office and the United Nations Office in Armenia participated in the workshop titled “Gender Equality and Safe Workplace Practices.” The workshop was held as part of efforts related to the introduction of the Gender Equality Seal at the Human Rights Defender institution.

It aimed to strengthen the institutional capacities of the Office in promoting gender equality, creating a safe and inclusive working environment, as well as preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the workplace and ensuring an appropriate response to potential cases.

Armen Navarsardyan, Assistant to the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, delivered a presentation on gender equality as a priority area in the Human Rights Defender’s activities and the work being carried out in this field.

He emphasized that ensuring gender equality is one of the priority areas of the Human Rights Defender’s activities and outlined efforts aimed at increasing the effectiveness of human rights protection in this field. Armen Navasardyan also presented the work being carried out within the process of introducing the Gender Equality Seal at the Human Rights Defender’s Office, emphasizing the importance of continuously strengthening institutional capacities in this area.

Zhanna Harutyunyan, UNDP Gender Equality Portfolio Manager, then presented issues related to strengthening institutional preparedness for the introduction of the Gender Equality Seal, highlighting the importance of developing organizational capacities, internal systems and practices.

UNDP Communications Specialist and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Focal Point Hovhannes Sarajyan and UNDP Monitoring and Accountability Specialist Marianna Avdalyan delivered presentations at the workshop. They briefed participants on issues related to promoting gender equality, creating a safe working environment, and preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment in the workplace.

The workshop also addressed the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace and appropriate responses to potential cases. It concluded with a question-and-answer session, followed by group work on improving mechanisms for preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the workplace and responding to potential cases. Participants presented the results of their group work and discussed further steps.

The workshop served as an important platform for strengthening awareness and capacities regarding gender equality, the creation of a safe and respectful working environment, as well as the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the workplace and appropriate responses to potential cases.

The work being carried out as part of introducing the Gender Equality Seal at the Human Rights Defender’s Office is aimed at institutionally strengthening gender equality practices, developing staff capacities and creating a working environment that ensures equal opportunities, mutual respect and safety.