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UNICEF, GERMAN EMBASSY JOIN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MONITORING OF CHILD RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN RESIDENTIAL CARE INSTITUTIONS OF ARMENIA
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/02/27/unicef-german-embassy-join-efforts-to-improve-monitoring-of-child-rights-violations-in-residential-care-institutions-of-armenia/
17:51 27.02.2013
UNICEF and Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany signed today a
cooperation agreement whereby German Embassy will allocate 65,000 EURO
to strengthen capacities of Independent Public Group for Monitoring
of Residential Care Institutions in Armenia.
"Children living in orphanages and night-care centres as well as those
attending special schools may be at higher risk of being abused and
neglected. Recent cases of abuse and violations revealed in some of
those residential institutions necessitate taking immediate action on
proper independent monitoring of child rights violations in orphanages,
night-care centres and special schools, as well as on the status
of children placed in those institutions," UNICEF Representative in
Armenia Henriette Ahrens emphasized.
Independent Public Group for Monitoring of Residential Care
Institutions was established in 2010 by the Minister of Education
and Science, following notorious cases of abuse and violence
in the Nubarashen boarding school for children with intellectual
disabilities. Supported by the Open Society Institute over the last
two years the Independent Public Monitoring Group has a mandate to
monitor special educational institutions of the Ministry of Education
and Science of Armenia. During the past two years the Independent
Public Monitoring group conducted visits to 32 special institutions
and produced two reports, which, however do not provide detailed
information on child rights violations in those institutions.
The objective of the current project funded by the German Embassy in
Armenia and the Open Society Instituteis to improve the situation with
the child rights protection in special institutions. It is expected
that the Independent Public Monitoring group will also improve its
internal regulations, supervisory structures, monitoring methodology,
mechanisms and tools to exercise better control over monitoring
and reporting of the results. The transparency of the Independent
Public Monitoring Group's work will be ensured through regular public
presentations of the results of the monitoring with participation of
all stakeholders, including media.
Apart from special educational institutions placed under the authority
of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Public Monitoring Group
will also exercise monitoring over residential care institutions
(orphanages, night care centres) that are administered by the Ministry
of Labour and Social Affairs, by establishing cooperation with the
latter as well as with the Ministry of Territorial Administration.
"The protection of human rights all over the world is a policy priority
of the German government. The German Embassy in Yerevan is working
closely with the Armenian government, the Ombudsman's office, NGOs
and international organisations in order to meet the challenges for
the safeguard of human rights in Armenia. Children are an especially
vulnerable group who need our careful attention in order to avoid any
abuse or violence and insure an appropriate care and education. We
trust that our joined efforts in this project will have a tangible
impact on the protection of children\'s rights in Armenia", Reiner
Morell, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Armenia,
explained.
In Armenia there are approximately 4500 children living in residential
care institutions. The adverse impacts of institutionalization on
children have long been proven by researchers around the world. There
is no independent and periodic monitoring of those institutions and the
status of children placed there. Ad hoc investigations and monitoring
are carried out exclusively when cases of abuse, violence or child
death become public. The placement of children in institutions often
ignores the principle of the best interest of the child, assessment
shows. Yet after the placement in an institution the majority of
children spend their childhood there due to the lack of follow up,
regular assessments of changing needs of the child and the family
and limited support provided to families and children by social
protection services.
"The Independent Public Monitoring Group should not be seen as
a response to critical situations in which children living in
residential care institutions find themselves, but rather should
serve as a preventive mechanism to stop cases of violence and abuse
against children and ensure the rights to education and to a family"
UNICEF Representative in Armenia stressed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/02/27/unicef-german-embassy-join-efforts-to-improve-monitoring-of-child-rights-violations-in-residential-care-institutions-of-armenia/
17:51 27.02.2013
UNICEF and Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany signed today a
cooperation agreement whereby German Embassy will allocate 65,000 EURO
to strengthen capacities of Independent Public Group for Monitoring
of Residential Care Institutions in Armenia.
"Children living in orphanages and night-care centres as well as those
attending special schools may be at higher risk of being abused and
neglected. Recent cases of abuse and violations revealed in some of
those residential institutions necessitate taking immediate action on
proper independent monitoring of child rights violations in orphanages,
night-care centres and special schools, as well as on the status
of children placed in those institutions," UNICEF Representative in
Armenia Henriette Ahrens emphasized.
Independent Public Group for Monitoring of Residential Care
Institutions was established in 2010 by the Minister of Education
and Science, following notorious cases of abuse and violence
in the Nubarashen boarding school for children with intellectual
disabilities. Supported by the Open Society Institute over the last
two years the Independent Public Monitoring Group has a mandate to
monitor special educational institutions of the Ministry of Education
and Science of Armenia. During the past two years the Independent
Public Monitoring group conducted visits to 32 special institutions
and produced two reports, which, however do not provide detailed
information on child rights violations in those institutions.
The objective of the current project funded by the German Embassy in
Armenia and the Open Society Instituteis to improve the situation with
the child rights protection in special institutions. It is expected
that the Independent Public Monitoring group will also improve its
internal regulations, supervisory structures, monitoring methodology,
mechanisms and tools to exercise better control over monitoring
and reporting of the results. The transparency of the Independent
Public Monitoring Group's work will be ensured through regular public
presentations of the results of the monitoring with participation of
all stakeholders, including media.
Apart from special educational institutions placed under the authority
of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Public Monitoring Group
will also exercise monitoring over residential care institutions
(orphanages, night care centres) that are administered by the Ministry
of Labour and Social Affairs, by establishing cooperation with the
latter as well as with the Ministry of Territorial Administration.
"The protection of human rights all over the world is a policy priority
of the German government. The German Embassy in Yerevan is working
closely with the Armenian government, the Ombudsman's office, NGOs
and international organisations in order to meet the challenges for
the safeguard of human rights in Armenia. Children are an especially
vulnerable group who need our careful attention in order to avoid any
abuse or violence and insure an appropriate care and education. We
trust that our joined efforts in this project will have a tangible
impact on the protection of children\'s rights in Armenia", Reiner
Morell, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Armenia,
explained.
In Armenia there are approximately 4500 children living in residential
care institutions. The adverse impacts of institutionalization on
children have long been proven by researchers around the world. There
is no independent and periodic monitoring of those institutions and the
status of children placed there. Ad hoc investigations and monitoring
are carried out exclusively when cases of abuse, violence or child
death become public. The placement of children in institutions often
ignores the principle of the best interest of the child, assessment
shows. Yet after the placement in an institution the majority of
children spend their childhood there due to the lack of follow up,
regular assessments of changing needs of the child and the family
and limited support provided to families and children by social
protection services.
"The Independent Public Monitoring Group should not be seen as
a response to critical situations in which children living in
residential care institutions find themselves, but rather should
serve as a preventive mechanism to stop cases of violence and abuse
against children and ensure the rights to education and to a family"
UNICEF Representative in Armenia stressed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress