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CHILD RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED IN ARMENIA BUT THERE ARE STILL MATERIAL
PROBLEMS: UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE
YEREVAN, APRIL 29. ARMINFO. The Ministry of Labor and Social issues
and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) convened today a
high-level meeting to review progress one year after the adoption of
the Armenian National Plan on Action for the Protection of Child
Rights and to discuss additional measures needed to ensure its
successful implementation.
"The 2003 adoption of the NPA was a milestone in the development in
Armenia of an integrated long term governmental program to address the
rights and meet the needs of children in this country," Mr.Sheldon
Yett, UNICEF Representative in Armenia said in his opening remarks.
The ten-year National Plan of Action for the protection of Child
Rights was adopted by the Government of Armenia in 2003 to realize
pledges made during the 2002 UN Special Session on Children. It lays a
solid foundation for the achievement of the millenium Development
Goals, and paves the way for the establishment of a "protective
environment" for children in this country.
"The National Plan of Action for the protection of Child Rights
recognizes and supports parents and families as the primary caregivers
of children of children and outlines needed measures to strengthen
their capacity to provide the optimum care, nurturing and protection,"
says Mr.Yett.
Armenia has already made steady progress in improving the situation of
children and women. In particular, the child mortality rate has
dropped dramatically since 1990, nine out of ten children in Armenia
are immunized and primary school enrollment rates have consistently
remaining high. Over the last several years new national laws have
been enacted and existing laws strengthened to better protect
children. However, this positive developments cannot be sustained of
the long term unless commitments to children are matched with state
budgetary resources and workable mechanisms for enactment and
monitoring of these measures are in place.
Without adequate financial investments and sustaining political will
at all levels it is impossible to effectively address such problems as
child poverty, children dropping out of school and persistently high
number of children in institutions.
According to data of UNICEF, there is a problem of unregistered
children, thus only in Gegharkunik region such children number 300,
mainly in the families of refugees. The meeting participants agreed to
carry out registration throughout Armenia next year.
To note, part of the program is financed by the Armenian Government on
the basis of UN Convention of Child Rights. UNICEF pledges to
implement the program within 5 years, allocating $200-250,000 for its
implementation every year. The Government-members presented a detailed
report on child rights, on the legislative and administrative measures
adopted in the country for protection of child rights. They mentioned
that the provisions of the national legislation did not proceed from
the social and economic realities of the country and did not
contribute to full protection of child rights.
To note, Armenia is in the 93rd place in the world as to the state of
children in 2004 , Georgia is in the 103rd and Azerbaijan in the 46th
places.
PROBLEMS: UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE
YEREVAN, APRIL 29. ARMINFO. The Ministry of Labor and Social issues
and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) convened today a
high-level meeting to review progress one year after the adoption of
the Armenian National Plan on Action for the Protection of Child
Rights and to discuss additional measures needed to ensure its
successful implementation.
"The 2003 adoption of the NPA was a milestone in the development in
Armenia of an integrated long term governmental program to address the
rights and meet the needs of children in this country," Mr.Sheldon
Yett, UNICEF Representative in Armenia said in his opening remarks.
The ten-year National Plan of Action for the protection of Child
Rights was adopted by the Government of Armenia in 2003 to realize
pledges made during the 2002 UN Special Session on Children. It lays a
solid foundation for the achievement of the millenium Development
Goals, and paves the way for the establishment of a "protective
environment" for children in this country.
"The National Plan of Action for the protection of Child Rights
recognizes and supports parents and families as the primary caregivers
of children of children and outlines needed measures to strengthen
their capacity to provide the optimum care, nurturing and protection,"
says Mr.Yett.
Armenia has already made steady progress in improving the situation of
children and women. In particular, the child mortality rate has
dropped dramatically since 1990, nine out of ten children in Armenia
are immunized and primary school enrollment rates have consistently
remaining high. Over the last several years new national laws have
been enacted and existing laws strengthened to better protect
children. However, this positive developments cannot be sustained of
the long term unless commitments to children are matched with state
budgetary resources and workable mechanisms for enactment and
monitoring of these measures are in place.
Without adequate financial investments and sustaining political will
at all levels it is impossible to effectively address such problems as
child poverty, children dropping out of school and persistently high
number of children in institutions.
According to data of UNICEF, there is a problem of unregistered
children, thus only in Gegharkunik region such children number 300,
mainly in the families of refugees. The meeting participants agreed to
carry out registration throughout Armenia next year.
To note, part of the program is financed by the Armenian Government on
the basis of UN Convention of Child Rights. UNICEF pledges to
implement the program within 5 years, allocating $200-250,000 for its
implementation every year. The Government-members presented a detailed
report on child rights, on the legislative and administrative measures
adopted in the country for protection of child rights. They mentioned
that the provisions of the national legislation did not proceed from
the social and economic realities of the country and did not
contribute to full protection of child rights.
To note, Armenia is in the 93rd place in the world as to the state of
children in 2004 , Georgia is in the 103rd and Azerbaijan in the 46th
places.