On June 30, the Human Rights Defender's Office organized
a discussion on the issues on bullying aimed at presenting the results of the
study on "the Issues of Bullying in Public Educational Institutions of the
Republic of Armenia".
The Human Rights Defender, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, and
UNICEF Access to Justice Programme Officer, Ms. Victoria Ohanyan provided
opening remarks. The event was attended by representatives of various state
bodies, non-governmental organizations, as well as psychologists and pedagogues.
Ms. Anahit Manasyan noted that the most important
component of bullying prevention is the formation of a united and
rights-protecting society. Here the role of the state, which has clear
obligations, is also essential.
“It is extremely important to exclude bullying from
public relations. Prerequisites and clear mechanisms should be created for this
purpose. In this context, it is necessary to carry out a lot of activities. The
Human Rights Defender’s Office works to fight against bullying. We work closely
with international partners, competent state bodies, non-governmental
organizations and civil society. I would like to emphasize our cooperation with
UNICEF, within the framework of which awareness raising campaigns and trainings
for specialists were organized. I would like to emphasize once again that it is
impossible to achieve the final goals alone. This is possible only through
effective joint work”- stated the Defender.
In her turn, Ms. Victoria Ohanyan noted that the
long-term collaboration between UNICEF and the Human Rights Defender's Office
has led to many positive results. Currently, this cooperation creates important
foundations for an effective fight against bullying. She especially emphasized
the fact that children in Armenia have begun to perceive the Defender as a
guarantor of their rights. She reaffirmed her willingness to continue
cooperation for the protection of children's rights.
During the event, experts, lawyer Ms. Laura Karapetyan
and sociologist Ms. Gayane Hovakimyan presented the methodology and structure
of the studies, and Ms. Anahit Khachatryan, Head of the Children's Rights
Protection Unit of the Convention Mandates Department of the Defender's Office,
presented the suggestions for solving the raised issues.
At the end of the discussion, an exchange of ideas was
also held, and a number of important issues were identified, the solution of
which is crucial in the fight against bullying. Summarizing the event, Defender
Ms. Anahit Manasyan noted that to fight against the phenomenon of bullying, it
is very important to develop a methodology as a result of joint work, as well
as a prompt response to the problems by competent state bodies is a priority.
The event was also attended by the members of the Public
Council on the Rights of Children and Youth adjunct to the HRD and young
people.
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