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YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenia presented its third and fourth periodic reportat the 63rd session of the UNCommittee on the Rights of the Child held on May 29 and 30 in Geneva. The report was on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
As Armenpress was reported by the Press Service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, the Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia and the Head of the Armenian delegation Yeghishe Kirakosyan presented the report, touching upon the process of the implementation of the Armenia’s obligations by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the actions and the planned steps of the Republic of Aremnia in this direction.
During the discussion of the report the Armenian delegation presented the strategic program of the children’s rights protection, the results of the implementation of the previous strategic actions plan, as well as some draft bills submitted by the Government of Armenia directed to the implementation of the Convention and the Protocols.
The UNCommittee on the Rights of the Child welcomed the steps of the Republic of Armenia made towards the implementation of the Convention and the Protocols and encouraged to continue the realization of the abovementioned obligations.
The Armenian delegation comprised of the representatives of the staff of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Defense and the Police of the Republic of Armenia.
The Committee is made up of 18 experts of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field of children's rights and aims at the controlling the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child via submitted reports.
The General Assembly adopted the Convention unanimously on 20 November 1989, 30 years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of the Child. The Convention renders States parties legally accountable for their actions towards children. Work on drafting the Convention began in 1979 – the International Year of the Child – at the Commission on Human Rights. The Convention was opened for signature on 26 January 1990. That day, 61 countries signed it, a record first-day response. It entered into force just seven months later, on 2 September 1990.
Ratifying the Convention requires a review of national legislation to ensure it meets the provisions of the treaty. The Convention, inter alia, stipulates that every child has the right to life, and that States shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child; that every child has the right to a name and nationality from birth; and that the child's best interests shall be a primary consideration when they are dealt with by courts, welfare institutions or administrative authorities. The Convention recognizes the right of children to be heard.
States shall ensure that each child enjoys full rights without discrimination or distinction of any kind, and that children should not be separated from their parents, unless by competent authorities for their well-being. States shall facilitate reunification of families by permitting travel into, or out of, their territories and protect children from physical or mental harm and neglect, including sexual abuse or exploitation. Children with disabilities shall have the right to education, special treatment and care; primary education shall be free and compulsory and discipline in school should respect the child's dignity; capital punishment or life imprisonment shall not be imposed for crimes committed before the age of 18; no child under 15 should take any part in hostilities and children exposed to armed conflict shall receive special protection. Children of minority and indigenous populations shall freely enjoy their own cultures, religions and languages.