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15 CHILD TRAFFICKING CASES REPORTED IN ARMENIA SINCE 2008 - EXPERT
14:17 ~U 12.06.13
An Armenian lawyer dealing with labor exploitation issues said
Wednesday that fifteen cases of child trafficking were reported in
the country in the past five years, with seven of them constituting
crimes of sexual exploitation
Speaking at a news conference, David Tumasyan, a member of a working
group adjunct to the Human Trafficking Council, said most of the
cases were registered in capital Yerevan, and in the regions of Syunik
and Tavush.
"Nine of the children are boys. and six are girls. There may certainly
be cases not known to the law enforcement bodies and even the society,
but it is necessary to note that the Law on Child Trafficking was
enforced in Armenia in 2003. I mean there were cases before that,
of course, but none have gone unpunished since 2003," he said, adding
that the first case was revealed in 2008.
Asked whether the 15 known cases reflect the true situation with
trafficking in the country, Tumasyan answered that this form of child
abuse is a latent crime, not commonly made public by people. He said
the unreported cases are mostly those taking place in families.
"In one of the cases, for example, the abuser was the step-father of
the aggrieved child. Law enforcers knew about this only after they
had the medical institution's report on a minor's pregnancy," he said.
Asked whether children selling flowers in broad daylight cannot
considered victims of trafficking, the lawyer said they still need
to study the sector thoroughly to find out whether that form of child
labor could be considered the worst.
"The fourth national action plan has placed a special emphasis on
that. It is not viewed as labor exploitation at present but they may be
considered a form of child trafficking in case of legislative reforms,"
said he.
The expert noted that one-sided orphans from socially disadvantaged
families are most often prone to becoming victims of trafficking.
Armenian News - Tert.am
14:17 ~U 12.06.13
An Armenian lawyer dealing with labor exploitation issues said
Wednesday that fifteen cases of child trafficking were reported in
the country in the past five years, with seven of them constituting
crimes of sexual exploitation
Speaking at a news conference, David Tumasyan, a member of a working
group adjunct to the Human Trafficking Council, said most of the
cases were registered in capital Yerevan, and in the regions of Syunik
and Tavush.
"Nine of the children are boys. and six are girls. There may certainly
be cases not known to the law enforcement bodies and even the society,
but it is necessary to note that the Law on Child Trafficking was
enforced in Armenia in 2003. I mean there were cases before that,
of course, but none have gone unpunished since 2003," he said, adding
that the first case was revealed in 2008.
Asked whether the 15 known cases reflect the true situation with
trafficking in the country, Tumasyan answered that this form of child
abuse is a latent crime, not commonly made public by people. He said
the unreported cases are mostly those taking place in families.
"In one of the cases, for example, the abuser was the step-father of
the aggrieved child. Law enforcers knew about this only after they
had the medical institution's report on a minor's pregnancy," he said.
Asked whether children selling flowers in broad daylight cannot
considered victims of trafficking, the lawyer said they still need
to study the sector thoroughly to find out whether that form of child
labor could be considered the worst.
"The fourth national action plan has placed a special emphasis on
that. It is not viewed as labor exploitation at present but they may be
considered a form of child trafficking in case of legislative reforms,"
said he.
The expert noted that one-sided orphans from socially disadvantaged
families are most often prone to becoming victims of trafficking.
Armenian News - Tert.am