WGSA President Armine Margaryan Presents Initial Findings of Groundbreaking Research at High-Level Conference

On November 27, 2025, WGSA Founder and President Armine Margaryan delivered a key presentation at the high-level international conference “Effective Defence and Security: Advancing Women’s Meaningful Participation in Armenia’s Armed Forces and Beyond.”

The event was organized in cooperation with the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, and UN Women.

During her address, Armine Margaryan presented the initial findings of WGSA’s ongoing research project, “From Policy to Practice: Integrating the Women, Peace and Security Agenda into Armenia’s Defense Reforms: Oversight, Accountability and Effective Security,” implemented with the financial support of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia.

In her remarks, Armine Margaryan emphasized the critical importance of embedding the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda within Armenia’s ongoing defence transformation. She underscored that as Armenia advances comprehensive military reforms, the research and analytical community must also play an active role, strengthening good governance, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making within the security sector.

For decades, armed forces worldwide — including Armenia’s — operated on a limiting stereotype: men fight, women support. Today’s rapidly transforming security environment demands a new approach. Modern defence institutions increasingly recognize that inclusion, diverse leadership, and gender-responsive structures are essential for operational effectiveness and strategic resilience.

The research aims to evaluate:

• how WPS principles are integrated into Armenia’s defence reforms, and
• whether existing oversight and accountability mechanisms effectively support this integration.

Armine Margaryan concluded by noting that many of the themes presented — entry pathways, leadership opportunities, gender stereotypes, and female-tailored combat wear and armour—were also echoed by other distinguished panelists, including Ms. Irene Felin, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security and Ms. Anahit Manasyan,  Human Rights Defender of Armenia, and will continue to be expanded throughout the conference.

WGSA remains committed to advancing inclusive, evidence-based defence reforms and supporting Armenia’s transition toward Comprehensive Defence and Security System.