Our involvement in Armenia began in the early 2000s. Between 2006-2009, we collaborated with UNDP Armenia to implement a Sida-funded project to strengthen the capacity of Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office to promote and protect human rights. In 2019, we re-engaged in Armenia, aiming to support the country’s democratic transition, and since 2020, we have been implementing a Sida-supported human rights programme. In 2024, we expanded our work and established new partnerships under projects funded by the Swedish Institute and others.
We currently engage with our Armenian partners to increase the capacity of representatives from the judiciary, state agencies, academia, and civil society to apply international human rights standards in ongoing and future reforms in the country. We work together with a range of local and international stakeholders.
Since August 2023, our cooperation in Armenia has been managed from our office in Yerevan, further deepening our collaboration with stakeholders and improving the implementation of human rights initiatives in Armenia. Our largest and most comprehensive programme is supported by Sida.
Live illustrations captured during RWI Armenia events, 2025–2026.
Commitment to environmental human rights
RWI Armenia works at the intersection of human rights law, environmental governance, and community empowerment, supporting civil society, strengthening legal frameworks, and promoting the rights of individuals and communities to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their environment and their lives.
Through our Sida-funded programme, we advance human rights-based environmental and climate governance by translating international standards into concrete national action, working closely with multiple units of the Ministry of Environment. Our work strengthens inclusive participation in COP17, with targeted support to women, youth, journalists, and civil society to ensure rights‑based and accountable climate action.
With academic institutions, we build long‑term institutional capacity to embed human rights across environmental and climate programmes, shaping future policy‑makers and practitioners. Through regional trainings and small‑grants support, we empower rural youth and women‑led organisations to actively influence environmental decision‑making at local and national levels. Furthermore, we reinforce human rights accountability by strengthening the role of national human rights institutions in advancing and defending environmental rights.
Learn more about the Model Guidelines on Effective Public Participation and Just Green Transition
Working with the Justice Sector
Within the justice sector, we support the Ministry of Justice in the implementation of the Armenian National Action Plan for Human Rights and collaborate with the Academy of Justice on human rights training for justice sector professionals. In cooperation with the Centre for the Implementation of Legal Education and Rehabilitation Programs, we support the development of training for prison staff and other services in the justice sector, to align with international human rights standards, with a core focus on sustainable training provision and long-term assessment of training needs.
Learn more about our work in the Justice Sector
Human Rights Defender’s Office (HRDO)
Our cooperation with the Human Rights Defender’s Office (HRDO) aims to support them in their role as a National Human Rights Institution to promote and protect human rights. In addition to overall capacity activities, the cooperation is focused on developing tools and procedures aligned with international human rights standards for their National Preventive Mechanism Unit, which monitors places of detention.
Laura Gasparyan, a coordinator with the Human Rights Defenders Office—one of our main partners in the region—shares reflections on our joint efforts and their outcomes.
Learn more about our work with HRDO
Academia and Research
Within our academic and research cooperation, we work with Yerevan State University and the American University of Armenia to support human rights programmes and courses. Together with academic partners, we are also exploring how Clinical Legal Education initiatives, including moot court activities, can be further developed at Armenian universities. Through research activities, fellowship programmes, and the organisation of annual academic research conferences, we are also supporting researchers from academia and civil society to enhance collaboration, advance critical reflection, and stimulate debate on human rights topics.
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Armenia is organising the Human Rights Research Conference for the 4th year in a row. The Conference forms part of RWI's 2022–2027 programme to support the production of high-quality human rights research in Armenia and to generate opportunities for cross-sectoral cooperation in the area of human rights research. Selected participants will be offered the opportunity to receive continued support during 2027 to develop their research further through a fellowship opportunity.
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute also organises the research fellowship programme for established scholars and emerging PhD students examining human rights from a wide array of fields. The fellowship is based in Lund, Sweden, and lasts for three months. The programme aims to deepen understanding and foster innovative approaches in human rights research, and is specifically open to scholars from Armenian universities.
Learn more about our work in academia and research.
Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP)
Since 2020, we have also been engaging with Armenian participants through the Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP), developed in collaboration with Lund University. In this programme, we gather young policymakers, public servants, and civil society actors to develop their skills in governing, giving them the opportunity to network and exchange knowledge.
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute was involved in the program both in coordinating the work—bringing different people together—and in shaping the content, where our team designed and delivered a significant part of the training.
Learn more about the SAYP training
Armenia Programme Staff
Laura Milne
Arman Gasparian
Arman Gasparian joined the RWI Armenia Office in August 2023. He has a solid track record in the international development field, most notably with the UN and the Council of Europe, and has experience with project and team management, event organisation, fundraising and advocacy, and data collection and analysis. Alongside his work at RWI, Arman is also pursuing a PhD focusing on Public Governance from KU Leuven. Arman has authored close to ten academic articles, the most recent being “From paperwork to pixels: Workload and digital governance in Armenian local authorities” published by Frontiers in Political Science.
Nona Galstyan
Nona Galstyan joins RWI as Senior Programme Associate at the RWI Armenia Office.
Nona has an experience in Programme Management with a demonstrated history of work with international NGOs, coordinating Human Resources section, managing and assisting different programmes. Nona is skilled in human recourses, public administration, governmental networking, data collection and analysing, youth participation, community development and more. Her latest work experience with UNICEF Armenia office, expanded her experience in Climate Change and resilience actions.
Nona can be reached at: nona.galstyan@rwi.lu.se
Nvard Minasyan
Nvard Minasyan joined the RWI Armenia office as Programme Officer in December 2024. Nvard holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Democratization from Yerevan State University and a second Master’s degree from the Management Department of the London School of Economics, with a focus on Responsible Management, Corporate Social Responsibility and International Labour Standards.
Nvard has extensive experience in fundraising, project management, public-private partnerships, and advocacy. Her specialization is in human rights and gender equality, with a primary focus on anti-discrimination and promoting equal opportunities. She also has significant experience in consulting, research, and training facilitation in these areas. Furthermore, Nvard has served as a trainer and mentor for local NGOs and social enterprises, helping them build institutional capacity in research, advocacy, and financial sustainability.
Meline Avagyan
