In Yerevan on 30 January 2026, representatives from the Armenian government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society, and international partners gathered for a Policy Dialogue on the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). The event, organized jointly by the ILO and UN Women in partnership with Armenia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, aimed to advance national efforts to implement the Convention following Armenia’s ratification in December 2025. The dialogue provided a platform for tripartite stakeholders to discuss legislative gaps, share experiences, and identify priorities for effective implementation.
Françoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, highlighted that workplace violence and harassment are human and labour rights violations that disproportionately affect women and undermine productivity. She emphasized that ratification must be followed by inclusive, sustained implementation supported by social dialogue, with the UN system ready to assist Armenia in translating commitments into practice. Deputy Minister Lusine Kocharyan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to decent work as a pathway to prosperity and inclusive development, stressing the need to align national legislation with international labour standards.
Reflecting on Armenia’s path to ratification, Ruben Sargsyan, Acting Head of the National Institute of Labour and Social Research, outlined the preparatory work, inter-institutional coordination, and tripartite engagement that facilitated the National Assembly’s approval of Convention No. 190. From the legislative perspective, MP Heriknaz Tigranyan emphasized the role of Parliament in ensuring that national legislation is compliant with the Convention and pledged ongoing monitoring and reforms to address legislative gaps. International expertise was shared by Özge Berber-Agtas of the ILO, who highlighted good practices, common challenges, and lessons learned from other countries in moving from ratification to implementation.
The dialogue also examined practical challenges through ILO-supported gap analyses presented by legal expert Sergey Ghazinyan, providing an evidence base to inform Armenia’s roadmap for implementing the Convention. Tiruhi Nazaretyan of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia stressed the importance of clear legal definitions, accessible reporting mechanisms, and practical protections for workers, particularly regarding psychological harassment. Lilit Adamyan of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia highlighted that predictable regulation benefits employers as well by providing clear compliance standards and reducing the risk of unsubstantiated claims.
From an enforcement perspective, Ara Mkrtchyan of the Health and Labour Inspectorate Body shared insights from labour inspections, noting limitations in addressing violence and harassment under current laws and underscoring the need for clearer mandates and procedures aligned with Convention No. 190. The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to continued tripartite cooperation, legislative reform, capacity-building, and awareness-raising to ensure the Convention’s effective and sustainable implementation.
Armenia ratified ILO Convention No. 190 on 4 December 2025, following parliamentary approval on 11 September 2025. The Convention will enter into force in December 2026. The policy dialogue marked a key milestone in advancing Armenia’s national roadmap toward a workplace free from violence and harassment.
