In conjunction with the Office of the Human Rights Defender in Artsakh and with the financial support of the Fund for Armenian Aid, the Armenian Association of Social Workers held the first international forum in Artsakh on the International Day of Social Work.

Social work experts from the USA, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Romania, Portugal, Israel, Iran, Canada, and Egypt joined the forum online and shared their experiences working in crisis situations. The event was attended by YSU faculty members, representatives of international and local NGOs, as well as representatives of state and local self-government bodies.

State Minister of Azerbaijan Artak Beglaryan and Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan Gegham Stepanyan made speeches at the forum. Notable participants also included RA Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, Armenia's Minister of Social Development and Migration Armine Petrosyan, President of the Armenian Association of Social Workers Mira Antonyan, YSU Applied Sociology Chair Professor Artur Atanesyan, YSU Social Work and Social Technologies Chair Artak Khachatryan, Lecturer Suzanna Juharyan, as well as Ana Radulescu, President of the European Region of the International Federation of Associations of Social Workers, and others.

This year, social workers of all countries are deeply concerned about the destinies of people suffering as a result of war operations. The values of social work itself are about people, around people, and for people. Therefore, social workers all over the world fully understand how wars can distort and change people present and future circumstances. In this regard, the population of Artsakh is unfortunately not an exception and continues to suffer primarily from the threats of violation of the right to life.

Social workers of Artsakh, being the bearers of the same problems as their beneficiaries, try to raise awareness of the problems of the people suffering from incessant war operations. Aspiring social workers try to be as responsive as possible to people's needs, learning along the way, acting and looking for systemic solutions to existing problems.

"The Institute of Social Worker, created immediately after the war in Artsakh, started from the right point and is aimed at changing people's mood and strengthening constructive thoughts," said Mira Antonyan who–in addition to being the president of the AASW, is also the director of the Fund for Armenian Relief’s Children Protection Center.

At the forum, new social workers shared their impactful stories. They presented to international partners about the difficulties they and their community have faced, and continue to face, as a result of the war and subsequent human rights violations in Artsakh.