Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan participated in the official launch of the new regional Lead4Peace program on gender equality and women's empowerment in Armenia. The initiative, organized by UN Women, aims to strengthen women's leadership, promote gender equality and foster peaceful and resilient societies across Europe and Central Asia.

In his opening remarks, Minister Arsen Torosyan thanked the Government of Denmark for funding the program and emphasized that ensuring gender equality, protecting women's rights, and expanding women's opportunities are among the priorities of the Government of Armenia. He noted that women's full participation in social, economic, and political life is not only a matter of justice and equal opportunities, but also a key prerequisite for the country's sustainable development.

"The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs consistently implements policies and programs aimed at increasing women's economic participation, expanding employment opportunities, promoting work-life balance, as well as preventing gender-based violence and improving support services for survivors of violence," the Minister stressed.

Arsen Torosyan also highlighted the close cooperation established between national and international partners, emphasizing their significant contribution to the effective implementation of government programs, the development of new initiatives, the evaluation of public policies, and the introduction of best practices.

Belen Sanz Luque, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia at UN Women, also underscored the importance of Armenia's participation in the regional initiative.

"By joining this initiative, Armenia becomes part of a regional community committed to advancing women's leadership and economic empowerment through the exchange of knowledge, experience, and solutions; strengthening gender-responsive governance; accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women; and promoting women's meaningful participation in peacebuilding and security processes," she noted.

The event was also attended by Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister of Armenia Lilit Makunts, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Françoise Jacob, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Belen Sanz Luque, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Armenia and Georgia Anne Toft Sorensen, partners from Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as representatives of international and regional organizations and other officials.