In Armenia, HIV prevention can feel out of reach for many people. While international guidelines exist, they often don’t reflect the realities here—the local laws, healthcare services, or the everyday challenges faced by marginalised communities. Transgender people, sex workers, and other key populations often navigate stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings, which can make seeking testing, treatment, or preventive measures like PrEP intimidating, if not impossible.
This is why the Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO decided to create something different: a community-focused resource called “HIV Prevention for All: A Community Guide to Health, Rights, and Inclusion.”
Why we needed this guide
Existing Armenian-language materials on HIV prevention are either too general or fail to speak to the specific realities of people most at risk. Through our monthly workshops and ongoing consultations with transgender people, sex workers, and community activists, it became clear that individuals often avoid testing and treatment not because they don’t care, but because they fear discrimination, judgment, or breaches of confidentiality.
We wanted to bridge that gap. By creating a guide in Armenian, we could ensure the information was understandable, culturally relevant, and stigma-free. The brochure covers essential topics such as condoms, PrEP, PEP, U=U, harm reduction strategies, and legal rights in healthcare settings, while also listing safe places for testing and treatment.
How we developed the resource
Creating the guide was a collaborative effort. Community members shaped the content from the very beginning, ensuring the material reflected lived experiences. Medical and legal experts reviewed the content to guarantee accuracy and adherence to international standards. We also drew from global best practices, including WHO and UNAIDS guidelines, and adapted them to Armenia’s social and legal context.
Design and accessibility were key considerations. The brochure is 24 pages long, featuring clear, plain-language text, step-by-step explanations, and illustrations to support understanding. To reach as many people as possible, we produced both printed and digital versions.
Getting the guide into people’s hands
Distribution was multi-pronged. Printed copies went to NGOs, community centers, peer meetings, and regional visits, while the digital version was shared widely through social media and messaging platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and email. We also introduced the guide at workshops, roundtable discussions, and outreach events, where participants could ask questions, share experiences, and take the information back to their communities.
The results were encouraging. Over 300 people accessed the brochure through print and digital formats. Community members reported that the guide not only improved their understanding of HIV prevention but also gave them confidence to seek services without fear of judgment. It has strengthened trust between communities and service providers, and helped open conversations about HIV and sexual health in ways that had been difficult before.
Why this matters
Access to accurate, stigma-free information is a powerful tool. When communities know their rights, understand prevention methods, and can safely access services, they are better equipped to protect their health. By localising HIV prevention materials and making them accessible to those who need them most, we’re helping to reduce stigma, promote inclusion, and empower marginalised communities in Armenia.
The guide is available for anyone to download for free here: HIV Prevention for All: Community Guide
Lilit Martirosyan
Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO
You can find the materials also on the side/bottom widget of this page.
EATG’s SCOPE project aims to strengthen the skills and knowledge of community health workers, advocates and researchers in the field of HIV combination prevention. It focuses on communities that are inadequately served by policies and programmes.
The SCOPE project has been developed by the EATG and was made possible through a grant from ViiV Healthcare Europe Ltd.
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