Children's ombudsman to be introduced in Armenia

Starting from today and in the course of the coming ten months, an action is to be held in Armenia devoted to the problems of children's rights. This has been reported to journalists by Varuzhan Sedrakian, chairman of the Children's Association of Armenia.

The action under the motto "Children Demand" will be held by a number of public associations which deal with the problems of children, together with the national UNISEF network.

According to Varuzhan Sedrakian, events in 10 regions of the country and in 12 communities of the capital will be held within the framework of the action. The events will include: exhibitions of children's art and a contest of essays among school-children of 8-10 forms .

V. Sedrakian has noted that one of the short-term goals of the action is resolution of the issues of hygiene in all schools of Armenia, resolution of legal and living problems of children who were born in prisons. One of the long-term goals is the introduction of the institute of children's ombudsman in Armenia, creation of special instances dealing with investigation of cases of the under aged. According to V. Sedrakian, about 50 cases are annually heard in Armenia on the crimes committed by under aged children. At the same time, it is not known how many cases are heard in connection with violation of children's rights.