Armenia is steadfast in its commitment to promote and protect rights  of all children - statement 

ArmInfo.Below is a statement by the Delegation of Armenia - Ms. Syuzanna Martirosyan,  Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission, at the UNGA79 Third  Committee under the agenda item 67, entitled "Promotion and  protection of the rights of children". 

"Madam Chair, Advancing the needs of children is crucial for ensuring  the integrity of universal human rights and ensuring the well-being  and development of future generations.

"Armenia is dedicated to enhancing the protection and promotion of  children's rights, having ratified all key international treaties,  including, most recently, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on  the Rights of the Child on Communication Procedure, and the Optional  Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities  (CRPD). In September, Armenia presented its combined fifth and sixth  periodic report on implementing the Convention on the Rights of the  Child, detailing the measures taken to uphold children's rights  across various sectors.

"Armenia's commitment to inclusive and child-sensitive policies are  reflected in the recent legislative changes, which aim to strengthen  guardianship and foster care systems, prevent challenging life  situations, and promote multidisciplinary child protection councils  within the communities. Round-the-clock duty stations are being  introduced to respond to urgent cases and establish a centralized  information system to track and manage cases of children in difficult  life circumstances. Central to these reforms is the principle of the  best interests of the child, exemplified by the establishment of a  child-centered justice system. This includes the implementation of  Barnahus facilities, which feature "safe corners" to help minimize  children's interactions with the traditional justice system and  ensure that their rights and well-being are prioritized throughout  the legal process.

"Armenia is steadfast in its commitment to promote and protect the  rights of all children, regardless of their circumstances. The mass  forced displacement of the entire population from Nagorno-Karabakh  has highlighted the urgent necessity to expand public services across  the country. In response, Armenia has mobilized resources to enhance  social security, healthcare, housing, and education while  prioritizing the psychosocial resilience of affected families through  collaboration with international partners. Recognizing the  vulnerabilities of many displaced children, who are without parental  care, access to necessary educational and healthcare services has  been ensured. Currently, around 17,000 displaced children are  enrolled in public schools in Armenia, where they receive essential  educational resources and psychosocial support.

"For Armenia, ensuring equal access to quality inclusive education  for all children remains a crucial priority. To this end, targeted  procedures have been put in place to identify and support children  who have dropped out of compulsory education, with biannual  assessments to monitor enrollment for those aged 6- 19. 

"The government prioritizes the creation of a sustainable school  nutrition system through initiatives such as the "School Feeding  Program," a product of successful cooperation between Armenia and the  World Food Programme. This initiative provides healthy meals to  primary school students across Armenia, aiming at enhancing the  quality of education and fostering healthy lifestyles among them. By  incorporating a food systems perspective into school feeding  programs, Armenia has been working to reduce nutrition vulnerability  in schools, having adopted a strategy that connects local farmers  with school food and nutrition initiatives.

"Additionally, to address early marriages, prevent school dropouts,  and promote the well-being of young individuals, legislative changes  were enacted earlier this year, setting the legal age for marriage at  18 without exceptions.

"Armenia is dedicated to fostering an inclusive society that respects  the rights of every child and ensures that all children have the  opportunity to thrive and receive the support they need, as reflected  in the 2023- 2027 Programme for Social Inclusion of Persons with  Disabilities.

"In conclusion, Armenia is committed to enhancing inclusive,  child-sensitive, and resilient policies that empower every child to  achieve their full potential, and we are eager to support  collaborative efforts in pursuing these objectives.

"I thank you."