The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its review of the combined fifth and sixth periodic report of Armenia, with Committee Experts commending the State on its amazing digital literacy education centre, while raising questions on corporal punishment and children’s participation in climate change policies. Philip Jaffe, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said Armenia was one of the leaders in digital innovation and digital literacy. The State had one of the most amazing centres for creative technologies where children were taught in great numbers. This was an exceptional model which allowed children to discover digital literacy. Benoit Van Keirsbilck, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said the law in Armenia still did not ban corporal punishment in all settings. When would there be a total ban on corporal punishment? When a child was a victim, what avenues did they have for complaints? What actions were being taken to enhance the child protection system in Armenia? What was being done to address the underreporting of violence against children in the country? Ratou Jean Zara, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, asked for information on child rights impact assessments carried out to inform the process of developing and implementing climate change policies and programmes. Were children properly consulted in disaster risk management? What steps were being taken to increase children"s awareness and preparedness for climate change and natural disasters by integrating them into school and teacher training programmes? The delegation said corporal punishment and torture or other forms of cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment were specifically prohibited in all settings. Government responsibilities described in the new law outlined the forms of support available to children and the processes of providing such support. The State was committed to enforcing the prohibition of child violence, including through legal enhancement, parenting support, and the promotion of non-violent child rearing methods. The delegation said Armenia was committed to climate action and was working to promote a healthy and safe environment for children who were among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Armenia became the first country in the region to sign a declaration with the United Nations Children’s Fund on children and climate action. The State was conducting studies, including on adolescents and climate change, and had developed manuals for teacher training programmes. Tatevik Stepanyan, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia and head of the delegation, presenting the report, said the 2024-2029 Complex Programme on Child Rights Protection, as well as the Demography Strategy of Armenia for 2024-2040, were aimed at ensuring favourable conditions for all children, creating an environment that promoted family well-being. Since 2014, through ongoing collaboration between the Armenian Government, international bodies and civil non-governmental organizations, the number of children in full-time institutional care had been reduced nearly fivefold, from approximately 2,000 to around 400 by the end of 2023. An important step in the process of forming a child-centred justice system was the establishment of an institute of qualified psychologists, as well as the introduction of the Barnahus model and the ongoing work towards the expansion of this service. In concluding remarks, Thuwayba Al Barwani, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, thanked the delegation of Armenia for the constructive dialogue and their comprehensive responses, which enabled the Committee to better understand the situation in their country. Ms. Stepanyan extended heartfelt gratitude to the Committee for their expertise. Throughout the dialogue, it had become clear that while significant progress had been made in children’s rights, challenges remained which required Armenia’s urgent attention. Armenia valued the support and guidance of the Committee and looked forward to further collaboration. The delegation of Armenia was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport; the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Centre of Translations; and the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations Office at Geneva. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s ninety-seventh session and other documents related to the session can be found here. The Committee will next meet in public at 5 p.m. on Friday, 13 September, to close its ninety-seventh session. Report The Committee has before it the combined fifth and sixth periodic report of Armenia (CRC/C/ARM 5-6). Presentation of Report TATEVIK STEPANYAN, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia and head of the delegation, said around 673,150 children under the age of 18 lived in Armenia and the State was determined to follow the principles of inclusion, justice and protection of children’s rights. During the reporting period, Armenia had ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the communication procedure, the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, and the Optional Protocol to Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The 2024-2029 Complex Programme on Child Rights Protection, as well as the Demography Strategy of Armenia for 2024-2040, were aimed at ensuring favourable conditions for all children, creating an environment that promoted family well-being. The newly developed law on the rights of the child and the child protection system and the amended Family Code aimed at creating multidisciplinary child protection councils to protect children"s rights and prevent difficult life situations. The new law package assumed the development of a new information system to enhance the management of cases involving children in difficult life situations for professionals delivering social care and protection services, while also establishing a centralised database for the registration and administration of these cases. To ensure the right of children to participate and make their views known in the development process of the Complex Programme, a number of activities were carried out in which about 60 children were also involved. For Armenia, the last four years had been marked by unprecedented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, military violence, and a severe refugee crisis had profoundly impacted the population. In response, Armenia had launched emergency humanitarian efforts in 2023 to assist the forcibly displaced population. Key measures included facilitating the continuation of education for children displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh by integrating them into Armenian schools. Approximately 17,000 children were enrolled in public schools, where they received essential educational and psychosocial support. In response to this complex humanitarian challenge, the Government had to swiftly mobilise resources to address the urgent needs of these displaced families, with a strong focus on preventing the separation of children from their families. The regulations governing the guardianship of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, displaced children and unaccompanied children were enhanced in the Complex Programme. Since 2014, through ongoing collaboration between the Armenian Government, international bodies and civil non-governmental organizations, the number of children in full-time institutional care had been reduced nearly fivefold, from approximately 2,000 to around 400 by the end of 2023. To facilitate the transition to independent living as a part of the 2023 reforms, a new social guarantee for persons leaving round-the-clock institutions was introduced. Instead of a one-time payment, monthly pocket money equivalent to the minimum wage for 12 months and rent allowance were paid. In 2016 and 2018, two round-the-clock boarding care centres were reorganised, and two support centres providing day care services were established. In 2019, three boarding care facilities were dissolved as part of the deinstitutionalisation efforts. In parallel with the closure of these institutions, new programmes were introduced to facilitate the return of children to their families, prevent their further entrance to institutions, and provide necessary support. As a result, the entrance of 389 children to the institutions was prevented. In 2023, in line with the commitments under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a new system for assessing a person"s functionality was introduced, representing a significant step towards creating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, including children, in all spheres of public life. To prevent the risk of children with disabilities entering in round-the-clock care institutions, a home care service for children with disabilities would be introduced in 2025. In recent years, legislative reforms in Armenia had also been aimed at strengthening the principle of the best interests of the child. An important step in the process of forming a child-centred justice system was the establishment of an institute of qualified psychologists, as well as the introduction of the Barnahus model and the ongoing work towards the expansion of this service. According to the new law on the prevention of family and domestic violence and the protection of persons exposed to family and domestic violence, which came into force in July of this year, a child who witnessed violence within the family was also considered to be a person subjected to domestic violence. Financial allocations for maternal and child health care in Armenia were increasing year by year. Budget allocations in 2019 for children"s in-patient treatment had since increased by 23 per cent. Among the reforms implemented in the system, hospitals and medical care were now free for all minors under 18, regardless of their social status and age. According to legislative amendments, children over 16 had the right to give written consent to receive or refuse medical intervention, except in cases provided for by law. In 2022, the State Programme for the Development of Armenian Education until 2030 was approved, targeted at providing equal quality inclusive education for all. Education funding had increased by about 50 per cent compared to 2019. With its 2021-2026 programme, the Government had undertaken to build, overhaul or renovate at least 300 schools and 500 kindergartens by 2026. Armenia continued to be faithful to its obligations under the international conventions and would continue to invest necessary resources aimed at the full-fledged protection of children"s rights. Questions by Committee Experts THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said Armenia’s presence here today underscored the country’s commitment to the Convention. While the Committee acknowledged the significant achievements made, there were still questions remaining, which the Committee looked forward to clarifying. PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said there had been major legislative developments since the Committee met with Armenia in 2013, including the overhaul of the Constitution. The State had also amended the Family Code and produced laws which reinforced children’s rights. The Committee was looking forward to the new law on the rights of the child. What were the main features which would benefit children? Could concrete examples be provided on what would be different for children once the law was implemented? What were the plans to fund these new changes in terms of staffing, bodies and entities? How would child protection mechanisms be funded? How would children in rural areas be impacted? There needed to be a greater focus on the tracking of investment. Mr. Jaffe was pleased to hear that vulnerable children would be highlighted. It was understood that Armenia had had to mobilise significant resources to welcome children from Nagorno-Karabakh. It was important to reinforce the budget of the Human Rights Defender, so they could deploy more energy to the Child Rights Unit. Changing the marriage law to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 was an important advancement. How were minority groups reacting to this news and what pedagogical tools were being employed to explain the change? When would the State have a comprehensive anti-discrimination law? What was the status on the draft law on equality? Mr. Jaffe said he had met with young Armenian girls who spoke about different ways in which they were treated compared to the boys in society. Despite cultural norms changing, the general feeling was that girls still experienced discrimination. How could the Government take children’s opinions more into account? Armenia was making progress in recognising children in law, but there seemed to be a roadblock on adolescents capacity to consent in medical decisions. Was this being addressed? What was the influence of the children’s parliament? RATOU JEAN ZARA, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said the birth registration rate in Armenia was high at 99 per cent, especially since a simplified birth registration procedure had been introduced in maternity hospitals. Ms. Zara commended Armenia for these efforts, as well as for the legal mechanisms put in place to ensure that the right to identity was preserved. Had the overall data collection system been put in place? Was the Child Protection Service of the Office of the Human Rights Defender provided with a sufficient financial budget and resources to take care of troubled children? Could information be provided on the implementation of legislative and constitutional changes to enable children to access information from a variety of sources, including online, while protecting them from certain content that harmed their well-being? The Committee was concerned about reports of violent dispersals of Nagorno-Karabakh-related protests. Were the rights to freedom of assembly and association guaranteed? If so, were people participating in demonstrations not subjected to excessive use of force by law enforcement authorities? What steps had been taken to improve the digital literacy and skills of children, teachers and families? Did Armenia have specific legislation dedicated to the protection of children"s personal data? What measures were being taken to ensure children"s right to access information from a variety of sources, including online information? How were children protected from harmful content and materials and online risks? BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, asked if the State would consider embedding children’s rights in the Constitution? Did children participate in discussions on the peace agreement? Mr. Van Keirsbilck congratulated Armenia for ratifying the Convention’s Optional Protocol. What measures had accompanied this ratification? Had training been provided to lawyers? To what extent did children have access to justice in Armenia? Did they have the possibility to bring their complaint to a justice remedy or an Ombudsperson? How far was Armenia from ratifying the Istanbul Convention? What measures were in place to ensure that children who came in contact with the law were protected from torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment? What mechanisms were in place to safeguard the rights of children detained by the police? How could children complain if they felt they had not been well treated by the police? What action was taken against perpetrators? The law in Armenia still did not ban corporal punishment in all settings. When would there be a total ban on corporal punishment? When a child was a victim, what avenues did they have for complaints? What actions were being taken to enhance the child protection system in Armenia? What was being done to address the underreporting of violence against children in the country? Was there a strategy to combat child sexual abuse and exploitation? The development of the Barnahus facilities was an important move. How was this organised and what was the budget in this regard? THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said reports had been received that 35.6 per cent of Armenian children lived in poverty in 2021. It was concerning that Government programmes had not reduced the level of poverty but created a dependence on Government support. What measures would be taken to address this persistent problem? The institutionalisation of children, especially those with disabilities, seemed to be persistent in Armenia. The Government’s efforts to deinstitutionalise care services were noted. However, it appeared there were still children residing in Government facilities, some as young as three. Were there no more orphanages or were there some which were still being phased out? The Committee had heard about sexual abuse in the care centres, particularly of children with disabilities. How were these cases being investigated? The Committee urged Armenia to issue a full ban on corporal punishment. The Government had issued a draft law on child rights and child protection systems, aiming to give protection to children from violence. What mechanisms were in place for children to report such violations? What was the Government doing to change mindsets? What was being done to educate caregivers and personnel on child discipline and positive parenting? Why was the draft law on adoption taking so long to be approved? It had come to the attention of the Committee that many cases of illegal adoption were taking place in Armenia. When and how did the Government plan to revise the adoption procedures? How was it ensured that adoptions, including inter-country adoptions, were executed with transparency and in line with the provisions enshrined in the Convention? What measures were in place for children who were incarcerated with their parents? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said the legislative package on the law on the rights of the child aimed to enhance programmes which ensured children’s right to live in a family environment. The specific functions of specialised units in the community ensured the activities of guardianship. There were plans to establish multi-disciplinary child protection councils. The protection of child rights was clarified. Several new components were defined, including bullying and sexual exploitation. A comprehensive package had been adopted concerning guardianship bodies. The proposed new system would implement 24/7 availability of social workers to ensure round the clock responses to urgent child protection cases. In the current system, individual social plans were only mandated for children in State care; the new system would mean individual plans were created for every child in need, regardless of their status. The plans would be monitored online. The proposed new system would introduce clear regulations for alternative care which would address current challenges and ensure the protection of the best interests of the child. Armenia had made significant strides towards its new social protection system. In the current system, guardianship and trusteeship were not systematically monitored; this would be changed in the new system. Registration of foster and adoptive parents was prolonged currently; the new system would streamline this. Since 2021, unified social services had been spread across the country in more than 40 communities. A working group had been established to ensure child participation. This enabled all children regardless of gender or age to be able to express their views. The adoption of a new law on the child rights and child protection system, which was accompanied by a 10-law package, would be implemented in one region in 2026, with the total overall change to the new system to take place by 2027. To achieve the goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2026, a new system would be implemented, estimating the household socio economic status. The new hybrid means of testing would be carried out and would be more targeted. This new assessment system would be part of the social assessment of all families, defining the social support for vulnerable families. The main goal of the new assessment system was to help overcome extreme poverty in Armenia. It would target vulnerability based on several different factors, including food insecurity. The law stipulated that the age of 18 was the minimum age for marriage, and the age of 16 was removed from the Family Code. Combatting discrimination on the grounds of gender had been addressed by the State. Armenia had established additional legislative norms to reduce the number of abortions. Workshops had been organised for medical workers on how to provide pre-natal assistance. With the support of the United Nations Population Fund, a programme was developed to prevent abortion on the grounds of gender. As part of this programme, measures were carried out, including a major campaign to raise awareness. As part of the programme, there was a Ministry of Health decree preventing abortion on the grounds of gender. The best way to combat this phenomenon was through awareness raising. The budget for education had been raised significantly from 2019 to 2024. A student council had been created which convened twice a year and had a say in legislative reforms that interested children. As of 2024, parents had the opportunity to register the birth of their child themselves. A legislative package had been initiated from the action plan on human rights defenders. New Criminal Code amendments were related to minors with mental disorders, stipulating for training for the psychologists who would be working with them. Armenia had a commission for making amendments to the Constitution. Since 2022, the Minor Council, in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund, had held discussions piloting the Barnahus model to ensure accessible justice for children, specifically for sexual crimes. Inspections were conducted on the basis of checklists regarding labour for persons under the age of 18. A hotline would be established to facilitate open communication. This would be provided for by State funds. Children would be actively involved in designing online platforms which catered to their needs and ensured their safety. This aimed to create a secure digital environment for children. Corporal punishment, torture or other forms of cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment were specifically prohibited in all settings. Government responsibilities described in the new law outlined the forms of support available to children and the processes of providing such support. The State was committed to enforcing the prohibition of child violence, including through legal enhancement, parenting support, and the promotion of non-violent child rearing methods. Armenia had recently introduced a definition of bullying, which encompassed verbal or written statements, physical acts and cyber bullying. New training models had been developed for teachers to prevent bullying and invest in the development of children. Questions by Committee Experts BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, asked if families understood the issue of corporal punishment. There was the impression that corporal punishment was accepted. How could the mentality of people be changed? How did the platform where children could register their complaints work? Did children know about it? Were they informed? PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said he had met with children on advisory panels who did not feel as though they were listened to. Had there been any children deprived of liberty in the past year in Armenia? THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said the comprehensive package did not seem to address the burden carried by families of children with disabilities. What was the Government’s vision in this regard? Children with disabilities in rural areas seemed to be particularly vulnerable; what plans were in place with regards to this group of children? What resources were allocated for this purpose? A Committee Expert said measures to combat vulnerability and extreme poverty were praise-worthy. Had an assessment been carried out on the multi-dimensional poverty of children? The Committee knew there was a lot of child marriage among different cultural groups. What was being done to combat this? Did corrective-punishment by parents fall under corporal punishment? Parents should not be able to “correct” their children by using force. What was being done to take the autonomy of the child into account? An Expert was pleased to hear that Armenia was making so much progress, especially with legislative changes. Would the State create frameworks for social workers and psychologists? Another Expert was delighted to learn that the Barnahus model was being implemented in Armenia. Could children provide a recorded testimony in Barnahus, so they did not need to appear in court? A Committee Expert asked if there was a strategy in place to detect underage marriages in different communities, based on their cultural practices? How was the State working with boys to ensure they grew up with respect for rights? Was there specific data on children in institutions, including their ages and data? RATOU JEAN ZARA, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, asked if the neonatal mortality rate had decreased and by what proportion? What was the trend regarding this ratio? What measures were being taken to ensure equitable access to health care for newborns, especially premature infants, during the neonatal period, especially in rural areas? What measures had been taken to reduce out-of-pocket spending on health services by implementing comprehensive health insurance throughout the country? Armenia faced a double burden of malnutrition, which combined undernourishment and overnutrition: rates of stunting and overnutrition were higher in Armenia. What steps had been taken to step up preventive measures in this regard? What steps had been taken to implement the document on improving infant nutrition and combatting malnutrition and child obesity? Mental health issues were growing in children; 39 per cent of girls up to 17 years of age suffered depression compared to 34 per cent of boys. What steps were being taken to address mental health problems among children, especially those in Nagorno-Karabakh, for access to quality mental health services and the availability of psychological and psychiatric services? What steps had been taken to bolster post-traumatic therapy for children? How could it be ensured that students outside of school and in rural areas received sexual and reproductive information and services? What steps were being taken to strengthen awareness-raising activities to prevent drug and alcohol abuse among children? Were specialised services youth-friendly in drug treatment and harm reduction? According to the information received, it appeared that significant efforts had been made through effective HIV/AIDS and antenatal care services, as well as the inclusion of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, could more information be provided on the rate of prevalence of HIV/AIDS and progress made thus far in regard to the health of children and teenagers? Was there disaggregated data in rural areas in regard to children receiving care? What measures had been taken to organise targeted consultations with families and civil society organizations defending the rights of the child on the issue of child poverty? What measures had been taken by the State to prioritise a coherent and comprehensive approach to social protection? What steps were being taken to adapt to climate change and protect the environment, and to combat desertification, soil degradation and air pollution, while taking into account their effects on the most affected and marginalised children? Could information be provided on child rights impact assessments carried out to inform the process of developing and implementing climate change policies and programmes? Were children properly consulted in disaster risk management? What steps were being taken to increase children"s awareness and preparedness for climate change and natural disasters by integrating them into school and teacher training programmes? THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, noted the proposed amendments to the Government’s decision of 2012 regarding professional development. The plan was interesting, comprehensive and innovative. When would these amendments be put in motion? Were there any challenges in implementing this plan for the more traditional teachers? The Government’s report indicated that enrolment rates were an issue. What was the latest information on the dropout situation? What was being done to address the root causes of school non-attendance? Was human rights education part of the school curriculum? BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said Armenia was recognised as both a source and transit country of child labour. What was being done to address this issue, especially in the context of rural areas? There had been many cases of illegal adoption in Armenia. The Deputy Minister had stated that there appeared to be a mafia involving an Armenian hospital selling babes abroad, which was a strong statement. What had been done to combat this? What support was given to compensate victims of illegal adoption? Had the draft law on national minorities been adopted? What kind of enforcement would be put in place? How useful would it be to address the high level of school dropout? What was the State response to child beggars? The new Criminal Code aimed to have an approach that was more child centred. From information received, 22 children had been detained in 2023. Was there a view to reduce the number of children in detention? What alternatives would be developed and put in place? Did the Ombudsman monitor the detention of children in prisons? What kind of training was provided to professionals? What was the content of the training? How was the new culture passed on to judges and prosecutors? PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said the Committee was concerned about military education in everyday schooling. Was it true that children at 16 or 17 could enrol in military education? Would Armenia consider ratifying the 2006 Convention on Cluster Munitions? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said last year, more than 150,000 ethnic Romanians from Nagorno-Karabakh found refuge in Armenia and more than 30,000 of them were children. The flow of refugees had been unprecedented. Unfortunately, in 2023, the United Nations could not activate its early warning mechanism despite reports of ethnic cleansing. The entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh had been under an illegal blockade for more than nine months. Since 2023, the Azerbaijani side had blocked all humanitarian delivery, in clear actions to perpetrate atrocity crimes. For nine months, 30,000 children had struggled to survive under conditions of malnutrition and absence of basic supplies. Children from Nagorno-Karabakh had suffered terrible trauma. To provide assistance to these forcibly displaced people, the Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had appealed for funds, but only received half of what was required. The humanitarian platform was created as a flexible response mechanism to provide a coordinated response to refugees. Unfortunately, refugee families living in Lori and Tarush regions of Armenia had been victims of floods. Among the children evacuated from the disaster zones were many refugees. Work was ongoing to fully restore the flood affected areas. The budget of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia was an integral part of the State budget. A Committee had been established to ensure that the rights of forcibly displaced people, including children, were realised in Armenia. Teachers had been transferred to help those who were forcibly displaced, and textbooks had been printed. Over 200 children were recognised as having special educational needs and were enrolled in inclusive education. The State aimed to alleviate some of the hardships of these children by ensuring they had easy access to education. Internally displaced children received full medical support. After the mass move from Nagorno-Karabakh, the United Nations Children’s Fund brought medical brigades with nurses and psychologists to assess the situation. There was free training for child psychiatrists to send them to the provinces. The Government had lodged housing certificates for people from Nagorno-Karabakh to enable them to have more permanent housing. Armenia was dedicated to addressing all forms of human trafficking. A key partner was the monitoring mechanism established by the Council of Europe which regularly monitored the State’s progress in addressing human trafficking. The Government was committed to cooperating with local and international organizations in the fight against trafficking. The seventh national action plan was in force in this regard. Emergency and medical assistance, temporary shelter, essential items and psychological support were provided to victims. In 2023, the Commission on Identification of Victims organised meetings to support victims. After the end of the 2019/2023 gender strategy, on the basis of the results received by a gender assessment, the new strategy for the implementation of gender policy in Armenia had been developed. It defined six priorities, including those related to climate change, health care, and gender-based violence, among others. The goal of the strategy was to eliminate the double vulnerability of women, and guarantee equal rights and economic empowerment. The ratification of the Istanbul Convention was planned within the framework of this strategy. Victims of domestic violence could access shelters, offering safe accommodation, medical support and legal aid. Armenia was committed to climate action and was working to promote a healthy and safe environment for children who were among the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Armenia had become the first country in the region to sign a declaration with the United Nations Children’s Fund on children and climate action. The State was conducting studies, including on adolescents and climate change, and had developed manuals for teacher training programmes. A programme was developed to address the unique challenges faced by women and girls in the context of climate change. Any involvement of children in firearms under the age of 18 was strictly prohibited by law. All schools were free from armed conflict and military violence. Following the war unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020, children had continually experienced armed violence. Massive attacks had gravely impacted the population and affected a significant number of children. Armenia remained steadfast in upholding the rights of children and ensured all military training remained in line with international humanitarian law. The State was party to several important declarations, including the Safe School Declaration. The Armenian Constitution enshrined that everyone had the right to participate in assemblies and to freely organise peaceful assemblies. Minors could also participate in assemblies. The law on police declared that it was forbidden to use special means or firearms against minors, except if minors were committing armed assault. To prevent the use of drugs and alcohol by minors, measures had been taken by the Ministry of Health, including educational and awareness raising activities, carried out in collaboration with specialist drug addiction treatment centres. Campaigns were being carried out with students to promote a healthy lifestyle and nutrition. It was forbidden to keep minors who were brought to the police station for a longer time than stipulated in the Criminal Code. For minors under 14, it was forbidden to have any discussions with them without a parent or guardian present. In 2024, the Human Rights Defenders Office received 612 complaints on violations of the rights of children. These were responded to and reacted to accordingly. Minors were not detained when they committed a moderate crime for the first time. Barnahus facilities were technically equipped, enabling children to provide testimonies without having to be physically present in court. The protection of the personal data of children was a cornerstone issue. A guideline had been issued on the protection of data on children. An event was carried out called “what does the internet know about me”, involving all schools, focusing on the protection of personal data online. The new law on social assistance would be adopted. This new law was rewritten from scratch and was accompanied by a large package of related laws. The Government had established social assistance programmes to mitigate the situations required for an urgent response. The main functions of social workers were defined, and their code of ethics revised. Questions by Committee Experts BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, asked what happened if a child was identified in a network of prostitution; what intervention was put in place to support the child? PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, said Armenia had signed the Safe School Declaration. There were reports that schools near border areas were tainted by military usage. Armenia was one of the leaders in digital innovation and digital literacy. The State had one of the most amazing centres for creative technologies where children were taught in great numbers. This was an exceptional model which allowed children to discover digital literacy. A Committee Expert asked if interviews conducted in Barnahus facilities were taken under due process? Regarding the medical evaluation, did this take place in the Barnahus facilities or in the hospital? Was trauma-focused therapy provided in the Barnahus framework? Another Expert said that school buildings were old and at risk of collapse, and heating conditions left much to be desired. Would the State take a stock of these buildings? What would be done to avoid potential dangers? Could the delegation comment on the situation of HIV/AIDS? What was being done to prevent mother to child transmission? What was the rate of prevalence of tuberculosis? Were there resources available to implement the plan which was developed with the support of the World Health Organization? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said there was a Student Parliament working with the National Assembly of Armenia, which aimed to be more consistent in raising issues relating to children. Youth centres had been established to empower youths to feel that they were agents of change. The centres worked to ensure children could amplify their voices and have meaningful participation. In 2021, Armenia had implemented new education criteria, with all educational material being gender mainstreamed. The United Nations Children’s Fund assisted the Government in providing support to children from Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia was undergoing a large-scale education reform, including for public education. There were many opportunities for teachers to raise their salaries, including the voluntary attestation. Teachers with scores over 60 per cent received extra salaries and even had the opportunity to double their salaries. The education register was notified when children were out of school for six days in sequence. A system was in place to ensure that it was easy to identify if children were enrolled in school or not, helping to prevent dropout due to issues such as early marriage. Armenia had ambitious goals to ensure that all children were enrolled in kindergarten. In 2024, the State had constructed 28 new schools, with a further seven to be constructed by September. Another 26 schools were already in the process of construction, expected to open next year. The bidding for the tenders of 111 schools had been launched, and construction was in place for 76 of these. It was expected that another 50 schools would start renovations this year. The State was aiming to rebuild 300 schools within the next few years. Human rights were included within the educational criteria and were streamlined within all subjects. The newly established Foundation on Education had undertaken significant teacher training. In 2023, over 10,400 teachers were retrained on this topic. This represented nearly one-third of the Armenian teacher population. The educational year 2024/2025 was announced as one of “cultural education”. This had allowed a synergy, connecting culture with education. Eighteen special cultural projects were launched to increase opportunities for school children to participate in cultural institutions. The neonatal mortality rate in Armenia had gone down in recent years. These deaths were being prevented by neonatal screenings throughout the country. Emergency medical care was provided to pregnant women and newborns. The State aimed to increase the quality of care and ensure all necessary care could be provided. Care was taken with breastfeeding and support from consultants was provided. Additional feeding was provided to low weight newborns. Particular attention was given to the feeding of children from infancy to adolescents to ensure their nutritional status. Breastfeeding consultants were present in all hospitals. Work was underway to develop new requirements for organising nutrition at the preschool and school level. In 2021, measures were adopted, including towards promoting healthy nutrition. The Health Ministry annually carried out outreach campaigns to inform the public on healthy lifestyles, including the harmful impact of tobacco and alcohol. In 2016, the World Health Organization certified Armenia as the first country in the region which had minimised mother to child infection of HIV/AIDS. In 2022, five children had HIV. The Health Ministry had introduced broad measures to prevent HIV transmission, including training for doctors and nurses. Extensive reforms in disability assessment had been launched. The deinstitutionalisation process had also been launched, in the form of foster care for minors. Efforts were being made to transform services in order to ensure that deinstitutionalisation could take place. A large contingency of non-governmental organizations, in collaboration with the Government, were involved in campaigns to combat stigmatisation and discrimination. The State was working to establish independent life centres, with segregated services for children and adults. In one case, a 16-year-old was returned to his family after 10 years in institutions. The number of children in foster care had almost doubled. Money was paid to the foster parents. The illegal adoption cases were being tried in the courts. The Government was authorised to approve additional features for international adoption, including the requirements that needed to be met. A large number of steps were being taken in regard to foster care to ensure the best interests of the child. Every single child had the right to be heard. Recorded information could be presented everywhere to alleviate stress from children. Armenia was committed to ensuring that all schools remained safe spaces for children, free from any military presence. The State would appreciate receiving any verified reports of military presence at schools so they could address this issue. Concluding Remarks THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Armenia, thanked the delegation of Armenia for the constructive dialogue and their comprehensive responses, which enabled the Committee to better understand the situation in their country. The Committee hoped their questions and recommendations would strengthen resolve to continue to provide a better environment for children in Armenia. TATEVIK STEPANYAN, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia and head of the delegation, extended heartfelt gratitude to the Committee members for their expertise. Throughout the dialogue, it had become clear that while significant progress had been made in children’s rights, challenges remained which required Armenia’s urgent attention. The voices of children and young people needed to remain at the forefront of discussions and decision-making processes. Armenia valued the support and guidance of the Committee and looked forward to further collaboration. ________ Link https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/meeting-summary/2024/09/examen-de-larmenie-au-crc-les-problematiques-des-adoptions Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.