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MORNING
HR/CRC/00/14
20 January 2000



COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF INITIAL REPORT
OF ARMENIA ON COMPLIANCE WITH CONVENTION


The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning started its consideration of the initial report of Armenia with an official delegation saying that despite the difficulties faced by the country due to a terrible earthquake and an economic blockade from neighbouring States, the Government still gave priority to the protection and promotion of children's rights.

Introducing the report, Vahram Kazhoyan, Director of the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said his country had been the victim of the terrible earthquake of 1988 and a long blockade by neighbouring countries. Despite those problems, the Government had continued to give priority to the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and to improving the situation of its citizens, particularly that of Armenian children.

Discussion over the course of the morning focused on general measures for implementation of the Convention; legal definition of the child; specific measures to implement general principles of child rights; and civil rights and freedoms.

In addition to Mr. Kazhoyan, the Armenian delegation also included Razmik Martirossian, Minister of Social Welfare and head of the delegation; Karen Nazarian, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Arpine Gevorgian, Third Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Armenia at Geneva; and Aline Dedeyan, Consultant.

As one of 191 States parties to the Convention, Armenia must submit periodic reports to the Committee on the measures taken by that country to implement the provisions of the treaty.

When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will conclude its consideration of the report of Armenia.

Initial Report of Armenia

The initial report of Armenia (document CRC/C/28/Add.9) enumerates the legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures taken in the country regarding children's rights in the spheres of health and education with the view of implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In its introduction, the report says that Armenia pays considerable attention to the defence of the rights of the child despite such serious problems as the earthquake of 1988, the long blockade by neighbouring States, and the influx of hundred of thousands of refugees from Azerbaijan as a result of the conflict between that country and Nagorny Karabakh, among other things.

The report says that in the disaster area, where hundreds of schools and kindergartens were partly or completely destroyed, new general education schools are being built, boarding schools are being fitted out and facilities are being developed for children left as invalids or orphans after the earthquake or armed border clashes.

Further, the report says that concern for children is at the centre of the Governments attention. In June 1996, Parliament passed a special law on children's rights, and a standing National Commission on the Rights of the Child is being set up. With the help of the United Nations Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, the National Centre for Democracy and Human Rights and the Norwegian Refugee Council, a number of books on the rights of the child and a special handbook for teachers have been published and circulated. In addition, a guide to children's rights for pupils in the middle classes of general education schools is being prepared, the report says.

Introduction of Armenian Report

VAHRAM KAZHOYAN, Director of the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, said his country had been the victim of the terrible earthquake of 1988 and a long blockade by neighbouring countries. Despite those problems, the Government had continued to give priority to the implementation of the rights of children and to improve the situation of its citizens, particularly that of Armenian children.

RAZMIK MARTIROSSIAN, Minister of Social Welfare of Armenia and head of the delegation, said that international agencies such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had been of great help to his country in participating in the efforts to resolve the problems faced by the Government. The educational system had been reorganized and schools which were destroyed by the earthquake had been rebuilt to accommodate more children.

Mr. Martirossian further said that his country was in the process of democratization. The process of transition to a market economy was moving towards the desired goal. Armenia remained true to a policy of economic reform, democratic change and integration into world economic and political structures, he said.

In conclusion, Mr. Martirossian said that the Government was willing to disseminate the report and the discussion held with members of the Committee in order to increase awareness of the Convention among the population of Armenia, particularly among children.

Discussion

In response to questions raised by Committee experts, the members of the Armenian delegation said that since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the introduction of a market economy, problems of unemployment and economic difficulties had been persisting in the society. Although the issues of children could not be regarded in isolation, the Government had attempted to deal with the problems of children under a special regime. Cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had been vital in alleviating the problems faced by children.

Concerning participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the delegation said that at the beginning when NGOs started to fully operate in the country, there had been differences between them and the Government on the definition of priorities. However, a confrontation was evaded with a series of meetings which allowed the situation to turn into one of cooperation and coordination.

A law had been submitted to the country's parliament on the establishment of a National Commission on the Rights of the Child and it was expected to be approved soon, the delegation said. The creation of the commission would improve the promotion and protection of the rights of children.
Armenian communities all over the world were expressing solidarity with their country of origin through the building of schools and other institutions which were beneficial to Armenian children, the delegation said. The Armenian Apostolic Church had also been instrumental in expanding welfare centres for children without family and financial support. Nurseries for children were also run by the Church. Foreign organizations had also helped in training teachers.

The most vulnerable sections of the population included children from families without a breadwinner, children of divorced women or single mothers, and children belonging to large families, the delegation said. Out of the 511 children residing in children's homes at present, 354 had no parents or only one parent.

Asked about the criminal responsibility of a child, the delegation said that the criminal code had fixed the age of criminal liability at 16. Persons who committed a crime when aged between 14 and 16 might be held criminally liable only in cases of murder or grievous bodily harm.

Special children's homes, boarding schools and rehabilitation centres had been established for children with disabilities, the delegation said. They also received free medical assistance and medicine. However, it was unfortunate that many children with disabilities currently lived a fairly isolated life in children's homes and other institutions. Only very few children had the opportunity to make meaningful contacts because most did not attend regular schools.

In the course of their consideration, Committee members asked questions, among other things, on how foster families functioned; the process of national and inter-country adoption; if pornographic publications involving children were distributed; whether corporal punishment was inflicted against children; the criteria through which children could establish their own associations; if children participated in municipal affairs; about discrimination against females, particularly girl children; and about police brutality towards adolescents.

There were over 1,700 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Armenia and the registration process was not a problem, the delegation said. However, the number of NGOs was too much when compared to the 3 million Armenians. The work of about 50 of the NGOs was concentrated on activities regarding women's issues. The Armenia Apostolic Church was also running its own relief agencies throughout the country.

The fact that many women were unemployed did not mean that there was discrimination, the delegation said. It was the competence of the individual that was taken into consideration while processing employment opportunities.

Since children were at the centre of any family life and the society, there was no discrimination against the girl child, the delegation said. According to Armenian tradition, there was no preference to either sex, thus both female and male children were treated equally. In addition, girls had no difficulties entering schools or higher education; and they equally participated in all spheres of life.

On the question concerning the status of children born out of wedlock, the delegation said that their status was the same as those born to married couples.

Corporal punishment was a foreign practice to the Armenian society, the delegation said. It was considered as violence against children and it was not practised in schools or the family.

Following the events of the 1980s, including the earthquake and the armed conflict with a neighbouring State which had inflicted heavy economic difficulties on the society, more children had been adopted by foreigners. The delegation said that when a decision was to be made on adoption, the views of parents and guardians were taken into account, including the capacity of the adopting family.

With regard to pornographic publications, the delegation said that there was a censorship body which checked publications before they were disseminated. At the same time, self-censorship was practised by the editors publishing material designed for children.