Women with disabilities as ambassadors for peacebuilding

A three-day training course was held on January 20–22, dedicated to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, in particular UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2475, as well as peacebuilding principles and advocacy mechanisms.

The training was attended by 35 women with disabilities from Yerevan and the regions of Armenia. It was implemented within the framework of the “Women as Peacebuilding Ambassadors” project.

The project aims to empower women with disabilities from Armenia’s border regions and displaced communities from Nagorno-Karabakh to become Peacebuilding Ambassadors who can actively participate in decision-making, promote inclusive community resilience, and monitor the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Armenia.

Project Manager Lena Hovhannisyan notes:

“Peacebuilding is not just a political process; it starts in the community and with the participation of every woman. Our goal is for women with disabilities to become not just beneficiaries, but leaders of change, raising issues of security, equal rights, and participation in their communities.”

After completing the training, participants will become Peacebuilding Ambassadors and will implement peacebuilding and advocacy initiatives in their regions.

Susanna Panosyan, the youngest participant in the training, says:

“I want all girls to have their voices heard and everyone to have equal rights. During the training, I learned how to collaborate and carry out advocacy work. The training made me more confident and helped me understand how I can contribute to change.”

Mariam Gevorgyan, one of the participants, emphasizes that the project has a lasting impact:

“It is very important that the project not only encourages knowledge sharing, but also provides mentoring support and financial resources to implement community initiatives. For many of us, including myself, it was important to understand where and how to start advocating for security and rights. I am glad I was given the opportunity to act as a Peacebuilding Ambassador. This is a great platform to make our voices heard and stand together for the benefit of all of us.”

Tatevik Minasyan, the head of an NGO operating in Tavush, also notes:

“These three days were truly knowledge-based. Previously, I was not very familiar with the UN WPS agenda and had hardly heard about the resolutions. Most importantly, similar trainings had never been organized specifically for women with disabilities. This project fills a very important gap. I am preparing to share the information I received with representatives of our community. Continuous actions will contribute to the development of equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.”

During the certificate ceremony, Karine Grigoryan, Head of “Agate” NGO and project expert, called on the participants to put their knowledge into practice:

“Knowledge is only valuable when it is applied. The skills you acquire can make a real difference in communities if you share them and take action.”

As part of the project, Peacebuilding Ambassadors will soon implement community initiatives aimed at promoting the participation, security, and protection of women, especially women with disabilities.