There are several social issues in Armenia including poverty, high unemployment rates, corruption, and inadequate public services.
[4] As of 2019, 26.4% of Armenians live below the national poverty line, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war playing a role.
In addition, Armenian law prohibits the sexual exploitation of children and provides for prison sentences of seven to 15 years for conviction of violations.
In April 2021, the government approved the 2020-2023 Comprehensive Program and Action Plan on Fulfillment of the Right to Live in a Family and Harmonious Development of the Child.
[5] A bill on rights of people with disabilities, which is set to replace a 1993 law and contains significant improvements, has not yet been ratified by the parliament.
[5] According to Human Rights Watch, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people continue to face harassment, discrimination, and violence in Armenia.
[5] In January 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council held the Universal Periodic Review of Armenia.
In the council's report, Armenia received numerous recommendations, including to ratify the Istanbul Convention without further delay; strengthen anti-discrimination policies; and criminalize all forms of torture and ill-treatment.
The report noted that election campaigning generally allowed equal opportunities for all contestants and that fundamental freedoms of association, assembly, expression and movement were fully respected.
[3] Men and women enjoy equal legal status, however, discrimination based on gender was a continuing problem in both the public and private sectors.
It has also created a better business environment for the locals and foreign investors, as well as increase private sector investment and overall economic growth.
According to the Asian Development Bank, as of 2020, the unemployment rate increased to 20.2%, while the proportion of employed people who receive less than $1.9 PPP a day is 0.3%.
In addition, the other primary goals are zero hunger, good health and well-being, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, reducing inequalities, growing sustainable cities and communities, promoting responsible consumption and production, and developing further partnerships to achieve these goals.